Martha Seif Simpson is the author of the new children's picture book I Will Not Eat Latkes!. Her other books include A Ring for a King. She is also a children's librarian, and she lives in Connecticut.
Q: What inspired you to write I Will Not Eat Latkes!, and how did you create your characters Nosh and Potchky?
A: I wanted to write an easy reader since there aren’t many Jewish-themed books for children at that reading level. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss came to my mind immediately because I thought it would be fun to write about a picky eater.
It’s been a Hanukkah tradition at our house to gather family and friends to help us cook a huge batch of latkes. One time, somebody said that the grated, uncooked potatoes looked like rusty potato mush. That stayed in the back of my mind for years and was the inspiration for the food my character refused to eat.
I knew Nosh (the one who likes to cook) and Potchky (the picky eater) would have to be animals because I didn’t want any adults in the story and I couldn’t have unsupervised children using knives or cooking with hot oil.
But I couldn’t decide what kind of animals they were, so I wrote the story without knowing! My editor and I came up with several ideas, and a koala seemed like a good fit for Nosh. We let the illustrator decide what Potchky was, and Lisa chose a ring-tailed lemur because she could have fun playing with its long tail.
Q: What do you think Lisa Hunt’s illustrations add to the book?
A: I had originally written the book as an easy reader. After Apples & Honey acquired it, my editor told me they wanted to change it to a graphic novel-type format.
That gave me the freedom to include art notes, and Lisa really made those instructions come alive. She created unique looks for a koala and a ring-tailed lemur and did a wonderful job of animating them in a comic book style.
I think Nosh is cute and lovable, and the range of expressions on Potchky’s face throughout the book are varied and comical. Lisa’s illustrations definitely bring out the characters’ personalities and add humor to the story.
Nosh and Potchky are adorable – I would love to see them as plush toys!
Q: Can you say more about your favorite Hanukkah traditions?
A: Getting everyone together to make the latkes is probably my favorite. I had an old cast iron meat grinder, and everyone took turns cranking the handle until the potatoes and onions were ground into the perfect consistency. Now my daughter has the grinder and we go to her house to make latkes.
When my kids were little, I gave them lots of presents, including a new book for each of the eight nights. Now I have grandchildren and they will definitely get presents and books!
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?
A: I think there are a lot of picky eaters who can identify with Potchky. I hope they discover that it’s OK to taste different types of food, even if they might look yucky. And in general, don’t be afraid to try new things. How else can you learn to swim, ride a bike, or play baseball if you don’t try?
Potchky acts stubborn and even has a tantrum, but Nosh has a pleasant, calm demeanor. Instead of getting angry, Nosh is patient and gently encourages Potchky to help cook and taste the latkes.
I want readers to see that treating someone with kindness and understanding is the best way to convince them to try something new or to help them through a difficult time.
I also hope readers think the story is funny and that they try the science experiment. And eat latkes!
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I have ideas for other stories with Nosh and Potchky, so I hope kids will want to read more about them. I’m also working on more picture books, board books, and a poetry chapbook for older readers.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: My author newsletter, The Simpsonian Muse, is now on Substack at https://marthakidlitauthor.substack.com/. Each post includes an interview with a picture book author and a photo quiz featuring a place where I’ve traveled.
With so many new titles coming out this fall, I will be posting a new article every week during October and November. After that, I’ll post articles once a month. Please take a look and subscribe!
You can find coloring pages, crossword puzzles, discussion guides and more on my website, https://www.martha-seif-simpson.com/
I’m also on Facebook as Martha KidLit Author and Instagram @Martha_KidLit_Author. And if you enjoy my book, please review it on Goodreads and Amazon.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Martha Seif Simpson.
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