Photo by Susan English
Bianca Schulze is the author of the new children's picture book Cattitude. Her other books include the Don't Wake the Dragon series. She is the founder and editor of The Children's Book Review, and the host of The Growing Readers Podcast.
Q: What inspired you to write Cattitude, and how did you create your character Cleo?
A: You might think it was a particular cat that sparked my inspiration, but in reality, it was Michelle Martinez, the brilliant book designer behind all my dragon books, who approached me with the delightful concept of crafting a tale titled Cattitude. And she was spot on!
Over the years, I've had countless encounters with funny, eccentric, cuddly, and snaggle-toothed cats. Cleo embodies all the peculiarities and quirks I've observed in these feline friends.
Q: What do you think Samara Hardy’s illustrations add to the story?
A: Samara Hardy always brings her vibrant charm with her use of bright colors and delightful facial expressions for the characters. Since Samara has illustrated all of my Dragon books, beginning with Don't Wake the Dragon, for each book, I eagerly anticipate how she'll bring the pages to life.
And I'm always thrilled by the simple moments she captures—a moment within a moment that says more about what's going on in the story than just what the words are sharing.
There's a page where Cleo is playfully hidden beneath sister Addie's bed, eyeing the unsuspecting little-kid feet in teddy bear socks, begging to be playfully pounced upon. Cleo's expression on this page is mischievously genius!
Q: The writer Beth Anderson said of the book, “In some scenes, the cat is much like a child, in others, she seems to be pure feline, but in all, the pet’s personality shines through with specific endearing behaviors.” What do you think of that description?
A: I think Beth Anderson's description captures the essence of Cleo's character beautifully. Her comment highlights the complexity of Cleo's personality and all the things that make Cleo relatable to readers of all ages. It's a thoughtful and insightful description that made me so happy to read!
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?
A: On a basic level, I hope readers connect over the funny antics of their own pets—which hopefully they'll notice in Cleo. Pets can be such fickle creatures, yet we love them unconditionally.
For our more profound thinkers, I hope they ponder this bond beyond the typical pet and human dynamic. I'm deeply inspired by Dr. Becky, the therapist, author, and podcaster, and her belief in the inherent goodness within every child.
What strikes me is that while others may become irritated with Cleo's antics, the narrator sees past the mischief to Cleo's true heart—the narrator recognizes Cleo's innate goodness, just as we all possess, even amidst our own mistakes or occasional slip-ups.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I'm currently working on a new Dragon story—a Christmas-themed story—while I await the publication of A New Friend for Dragon, which will be released in August of 2024.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Yes! One of my favorite things is to talk to authors about their books. While I'm happy to talk about my books, I LOVE talking about other people's books the most! So I hope you'll come and listen to my podcast, The Growing Readers Podcast.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb. This interview was conducted in partnership with The Children's Book Review. They are doing a giveaway for the chance to win Schulze and Hardy's Dragon series and a $50 bookshop.org gift card.
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