Q&A with Jill Rosen

 

 

 

Jill Rosen is the author of the new children's picture book Ode to a Pug: NOT the VET!. It's the latest in her Ode to a Pug series.  

 

Q: What inspired you to write Ode to a Pug: NOT the VET!?

 

A: Well, with three dogs and two cats, I spend a lot of time at the vet. And somehow they all know when it's vet day and are experts at running and hiding when it's time to go. Phoebe can be particularly hard to wrangle, but so adorable when she's in the vet’s office waiting, with her eyes wide and her rolls trembling.

 

As I was watching her during one anxious trip, I thought about when I used to take my two boys to the doctor when they were little. My oldest, in particular, was terrified of needles. Watching Phoebe whimper and plead with her expressive eyes is when I decided that a book about fear of the doctor would be very relatable.

 

More importantly, I wanted children to see that if a pug could manage and even overcome its worst fear, maybe they could too. Ode to a Pug: NOT the VET! was born!

 

Q: What do you think the story says about how pets feel when it's time to go to the vet?

 

A: I certainly think Phoebe is not alone in her dread of the vet visit. Our pets just can't understand why they have to go and have no idea what's going to happen when they get there. It’s no wonder they are anxious!

 

Luckily, vet offices are well prepared for their nervous patients with lots of praise and treats, and each positive experience starts to chip away at that initial fear, so tails are usually wagging again before long.

 

Q: What do you think Stephanie Rohr’s illustrations add to this book?

 

A: I can't say enough about how much I love working with Steph and how extremely talented she is. She brings the characters to life and works hard to ensure every emotion in our books is visually clear. She also amplifies the humor of our books, perfectly capturing the silliness of the pug. 

 

The high quality of her work is evident in all the tiny details in each scene, as she sprinkles in all sorts of funny images to keep readers entertained. I feel like I notice something new every time I read any of our books! Her use of colour perfectly expresses the joy of the Ode to a Pug brand.

 

We work together throughout the book development process, inspiring and pushing each other further every time. She just gets me and my vision for each story, and most of all, she gets Phoebe! Her art has been the perfect complement to my writing.

 

Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?

 

A: Generally, I hope young readers first learn that they are not alone if they have fears. Through Phoebe's journey they can see that sometimes things seem scarier in our minds than they are in reality, and it is possible to face our fears and even conquer them.

 

It was also important for me to show a positive experience for a doctor visit. Many pets and kids (and adults!) understandably have significant anxiety about going to the doctor and receiving medical treatments.

 

Having children recognize that healthcare professionals aren't scary monsters, but rather good people who are there to help not hurt is hopefully reassuring for them.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I am pleased to share that book four in the Ode to a Pug series, Ode to a Pug: I'm a BIG Dog, will be coming this spring. Phoebe and her little Pomeranian friend (minus the worms) will be back and determined to prove they can hang with the BIG dogs.

 

Any child who has stared down a “You must be this tall to enter” sign will appreciate this next Phoebe adventure. (Not to mention adults like myself who proudly rock a height that barely cracks five feet).

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Since we're on the topic of fear, I can share an odd fear of my own! I am inexplicably afraid of crumbs. I cannot sit on a chair with crumbs. If crumbs are around me (not contained on a plate), I cannot relax or think of anything else until they are wiped or vacuumed away.

 

Luckily, fate brought us the ultimate crumb shield in Phoebe. No crumb is safe in a house with a pug!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. This Q&A was conducted in partnership with Jill Rosen. Here's a previous Q&A with Jill Rosen. Enter this giveaway for a chance to win one of 10 hardcover copies of Ode to a Pug: NOT the VET! One grand prize winner will receive all three titles in the Ode to a Pug series, signed by author Jill Rosen, plus three custom pug plushies!