Helen Kemp Zax is the author of the new children's picture book Little Bunny's To-Do List. She also has written the book Little Witch's To-Do List. She is also a lawyer and an educator.
Q: What inspired you to write Little Bunny’s To-Do List?
A: Little Bunny’s To-Do List is the second book in the Magical List Series. I wrote the first poem, Little Witch’s To-Do List, in response to a submission call from Highlights. At the suggestion of a poet friend, I added a few stanzas to make the manuscript picture-book length.
My editor Meredith Mundy bought Little Witch’s To-Do List as part of a series deal. She and the Abrams team decided which characters and holidays they wanted to feature in the later books. Little Bunny’s To-Do List became the second book in our now four-book series.
Q: What do you think Kiersten Eve Eagan’s illustrations add to the story?
A: Everything! Kiersten’s illustrations are charming, funny, and filled with incredible detail. She captures the spirit of my very short lines of poetry and brings them to adorable life. Little children love poring over illustrations. Kiersten always gives our little “readers” a vivid world to explore.
Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “Easter fun delivered along with sound advice for staying on top of necessary tasks.” What do you think of that description?
A: Each of the Magical List Series books ends with a surprise. The character’s completed to-do list lies hidden behind an illustration feature. Then the final page asks the question, “What’s on YOUR to-do list?” This query offers a gentle introduction to the concepts of organization and planning.
Kiersten, Meredith, the whole Abrams team, and I worked to fill Little Bunny’s To-Do List with Easter fun. So, yes! The lovely Kirkus review does capture the essence of our book.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the book?
A: I truly hope kids who read our book come away feeling that the world can be a magical place.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I just finished revising the fourth book in the Magical List Series—Little Leprechaun’s To-Do List—and submitting a few poems to magazines and anthology calls. Now I hope to revisit and revise a novel-in-verse I wrote during Covid.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I like to tell aspiring writers to keep doing the work and keep believing in their work. My series deal was a total surprise. You never know when a wonderful editor will see your work and understand what was in your heart when you put words to paper.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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