Q&A with Dianna Hutts Aston

 

 

 

Dianna Hutts Aston is the author of the children's picture book Mermaids' Song to the Sea. Her other books include A Seed Is Sleepy.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Mermaids’ Song to the Sea?

 

A: My love of nature began as a child growing up in Houston. My family took frequent trips to Galveston, and I’ve always felt my happiest on the Texas portion of the Gulf of MEXICO.

 

In my early 50s, I lived in Port Aransas on Mustang Island, the barrier island to Corpus Christi. In my late 50s, I lived on Corpus Christi Bay in Portland. During the pandemic, I would walk down to the bay and imagine mermaids, think about all the creatures beneath the water, feel concern for their well-being.

 

Q: What do you think Renée Kurilla’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Playfulness! Sweetness. A feeling of affection. Her colors are candy store heavenly. Of course she’s a wonderful illustrator, but she also has the necessary research skills to create what we sometimes call “a perfect marriage” of text and art.

 

Renée surprised and delighted us by making the last page show our girls back at home, asleep, in their shell bed. Their imaginations took them to another world where they could pretend.

 

Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “Hand this to fans clamoring for new mermaid titles; they’ll learn something, too.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: That every girl wants to be a mermaid (a few boys, mermen). Mermaids are beautiful, mysterious, magical, and mostly, free – free of the cares we face. There is no currency or mandate or war. There are millions of wannabe mermaids.

 

Then there’s the subtle science. I spent hours and hours and hours and hours researching the coral reefs. They’ll learn about all kinds of animals they’ve never heard of, collective nouns, and playful language.

 

My vision of the book’s readers and listeners isn’t so much the school setting as lap time and bedtime, time for prayers and blessings, and interaction between child and grownup as they discover the animals – and maybe that will spark their curiosity to seek more information.

 

So, what do I think of that description? Hand this to fans clamoring for new mermaid titles!

Q: What do you hope kids (and adults) take away from the book?

 

A: I hope they take away a deeper understanding, curiosity, and love for the awe and wonder of nature. Everything in nature makes sense. In this too often chaotic world these days, we can find comfort and rejuvenation in nature, where there is a reason for everything. It makes sense. It relieves stress.

 

I hope parents reinforce the need to become conservationists, scientists, David Attenboroughs, and stewards of this planet we call home.

 

And I pray every parent will make sure their children learn to be good swimmers.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: We’re working on follow-ups to mermaids. The same three girls as actresses celebrate a birthday with a slumber party safari to see “the greatest show on Earth,” a description sometimes used in lieu of the great migration of wildebeests and African animals. After that, they’ll become rainforest fairies.

 

Each girl has a different passion: the coral reefs, the savanna, and the rainforest. I couldn’t have imagined that a single book would become a series! We have a great team led by Hippo Park editor Jill Davis. There are so many players behind the scenes.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: If I could meet one living person in the world today, it would be David Attenborough. I’m addicted to his documentaries, particularly the ones about oceans, islands, rainforests, and savanna that give us a detailed look at the flora and fauna.

 

His productions are a HUGE part of my research, not only for trusted information but also because I can see, watch and hear animals’ movements and sounds.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb