Judith Orloff is the author, with Jennifer Adams, of the new children's picture book The Highly Sensitive Rabbit. Her other books include The Genius of Empathy. She is a psychiatrist, and is a member of the UCLA Psychiatric Clinic faculty.
Q: What inspired you and Jennifer Adams to write The Highly Sensitive Rabbit, and how did you create your character Aurora?
A: I was a highly sensitive child with two physician parents and 25 physicians in my family. I came from a linear, logical family. As a child, I was sensitive intuitive and easily overwhelmed. I couldn’t go to shopping malls in crowded places without getting overwhelmed by the intense energy there.
I didn’t realize that as a highly sensitive child I was an emotional sponge for stress. My usually loving mother told me I didn’t have a thick enough skin and then I was overly sensitive and that people would think I was weird if I told them about my experiences, so I grew up ashamed of my sensitivities.
As an adult, my nickname is Aurora, and this book is based on my childhood growing up as a highly sensitive child.
I was blessed that my publisher, Sounds True, put Jennifer and me together. Jennifer is a pro in writing/editing children’s books and she was moved by my story, so we both decided we wanted to write a book that would help sensitive children not feel the shame that I felt while growing up.
We also wanted to offer them some self-care tools to protect themselves so they didn’t get drained or shamed.
Q: What do you think Katy Tanis’s illustrations add to the story?
A: Katy is a brilliant artist who has a deep love of animals. The Highly Sensitive Rabbit is all about animals and the gifts they bestow on each other and also on us as humans.
Katy’s illustrations are so vibrant, magical and soothing, I love to keep rereading the book to feel the power of her illustrations and how they are perfectly matched with the words. It’s as if Katy sees the souls of animals and transmits them through the page.
Q: Why did you choose a rabbit as your protagonist, and how did you choose the other desert animals to include?
A: I love rabbits so much, as do Jen and Katy. So the rabbit in the book is named Aurora (my nickname) and this book is her journey finding herself and embracing her gifts.
The javelina is one of my favorite animals. She is “different” than the others and perhaps a bit wilder. Havi, the Havalina, is also one of my beloved stuffed animals who sits in my living room watching over everything.
We chose the spotted skunk as one of Aurora’s friends because she is so cute and taught Aurora to set healthy boundaries.
Most children’s books take place in the forest. Jen, Katy, and I wanted to share another powerful with children environment: the desert, with its amazing landscapes and animals. Also the Sonoran desert outside Tucson, Arizona, was the first place I ever met a javelina!
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the book?
A: I want kids to know that their sensitivity is a gift and nothing to ever be ashamed of. Other people might not understand it all the time, but it’s important that parents and educators, and everyone who has contact, is sensitive. Kids can support them and teach them to embrace their abilities.
It’s a beautiful joyous book with an open heart that I hope can be a friend to many children and their parents. It’s ideal to read together on a cozy couch and talk to each other about the book or just how beautiful the illustrations are.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am on a book tour for The Highly Sensitive Rabbit now. I am offering numerous book events in Los Angeles and online so that people can come together and learn about The Highly Sensitive Rabbit and how sensitive children can save the world-- but the children need to be in good shape to do it.
That’s what the book is all about. That's what I'm doing now; that’s what’s in my heart and soul. I hope people who read this can join me along the way and participate in the discussion. More information at www.drjudithorloff.com
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: The world is going through a very stressful time now. We need to support the attributes of sensitivity, love, intuition, connection, and empathy.
Nurturing sensitive children can help us do that and nurturing ourselves can help us do that too. We want to embody the change we want to see and how we treat ourselves and our children is crucial to our world and to our future.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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