Interview with Stu Smith

Author of
The Bubble Gum Kid
Published by Running Press Kids, August 2006

Stu Smith, an elementary school teacher in Rochester, NY, is author of several children's books, among them My School's A Zoo and Goldilocks and the Three Martians. His latest book, The Bubble Gum Kid, illustrated by Julia Woolf, was released in August, 2006. The first printing of The Bubble Gum Kid sold out the first day!

KOA: Tell me about The Bubble Gum Kid.

Stu Smith: The Bubble Gum Kid is a picture book geared towards children ages 2 - 9. It's pretty much the same audience as my other books.

KOA: What is the story?

Stu Smith: Anyone who has ever chewed gum will enjoy this story. It's about a boy named Billy Bob Glum. Billy is always chewing gum but has no idea how to blow a bubble. The antagonist in the story loves to make fun of Billy because of this. Billy gets help from his sister in learning how to blow a bubble. He gets pretty good at blowing bubbles, but maybe a little too good. His bubble blowing lands him in a world of trouble. The story has a surprising twist at the end.

KOA: How did you get inspired to write it?

Stu Smith: I'm not sure where the idea came from, but it was one of the easiest books I've ever written. The words just seemed to jump on the page. I actually wrote the majority of this book while on jury duty.

KOA: Tell me about the illustrator.

Stu Smith: My illustrator's name is Julia Woolf. This was her first picture book. Julia was born in London and now lives in LA where she works for Dreamworks. Julia has registered quite a few accomplishments in the film industry. She has worked on both Shrek movies and other animated films such as Madagascar. I feel extremely lucky to have her as my illustrator.

KOA: When did you first plan to become a children's book author?

Stu Smith: I don't think I ever planned to be a children's author. It just seemed the natural thing to do given the fact that as an elementary teacher, I've read literally thousands of picture books.

KOA: What motivated you to do so?

Stu Smith: My motivation for writing is purely as a creative outlet. I love anything creative, whether it be planting a new flower bed, developing a recipe in the kitchen or creating a new character for a book. I think people are most happy in their lives when they're creating something new.

KOA: Have those motivations changed through the years?

Stu Smith: Maybe a little. I have a son who will be entering college in a year, so I need every extra penny from writing I can get!

KOA: Is there an age at which you felt "qualified" to write children's books, or was this a passion from the very first?

Stu Smith: Writing has always been a passion of mine. I credit my elementary teachers for tricking me into thinking I was a "writer." My mother saved everything from my youth, and when I revisit those stories that I wrote as a child I realize what tremendous motivators my teachers were. My writing was awful! But what they accomplished was to instill in me a love for books and writing, especially poetry.

KOA: It seems to me that this is an important point that needs to be communicated to kids: That good writers were once bad writers, that being good at almost anything requires a lot of time, practice, and perseverance. What kind of role do you think adults should play in encouraging kids in this way?

Stu Smith: I have fond memories of my fifth grade teacher in regard to my passion for writing. She would transfer stories or poems that she especially liked onto large pieces of tagboard paper. She would then display these in the classroom and in the hallway. That was a huge motivation for me; I wanted to have my writing displayed. As a result, I was constantly churning out poem after poem in the hopes that she would choose one of mine for display (which she did on several occasions). I thought that I was quite the poet. This led to a love of poetry that continues to this day.

What's funny is, years later, when my mother pulled these poems out of storage (Yes, I still have those large tagboard sheets), I couldn't believe how bad my writing was. It became obvious to me that my former teacher hadn't selected my poems because they were the best, but because she wanted to encourage me as a writer. Well, it must have worked, because look at me now! I actually dedicated my first book, Dinosaur Hide and Seek, to her. Who knows what would have happened if she had been completely honest with me about my writing back then. I think there's an important message there for parents and teachers alike. All children are a "work in progress," and we need to encourage them to be the best that they possibly be. Just look what a little nurturing will do!

KOA: I know that you have kids yourself, and that you're an elementary school teacher. How have these experiences influenced your decision to become a children's writer?

Stu Smith: I am so lucky to work with children. They provide an endless supply of ideas. I also find that my classes make excellent critique groups as well. When I read my students a story that I'm working on, they always come up with things that adults would never think of. Their creativity is infectious.

KOA: Does being a father contribute something different than being a teacher?

Stu Smith: I think so. You get to experience a child's life outside of the classroom. My own children have been a great source of inspiration. It is interesting to note, however, that some of the most successful children's authors never had kids of their own.

KOA: If it takes a "certain kind of person" to be a children's book writer, what is that certain kind of person?

Stu Smith: I think you need to be able to look at the world through a child's eyes. Children's authors never lose that sense of wonder that children have.

KOA: What authors were your main influences? What authors do you admire?

Stu Smith: My favorite author is probably Roald Dahl. When I taught the primary grades, I loved reading his books aloud to my students. I also love all the great children's poets such as Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, and, of course, Dr. Seuss. I also enjoy humorous writers such as James Marshall and Dav Pilkey.

KOA: Do your books have a main theme or message?

Stu Smith: My books really don't have any message or moral to them. I just hope kids enjoy reading them, and that maybe they'll invoke a giggle or two.

KOA: What do you think adults should try to communicate to kids through books?

Stu Smith: I think adults need to promote the joy of reading. They can do this by reading to their children on a daily basis, taking them to the bookstore and library, and, most important, reading themselves. Children learn more from what we do, than what we say. If they see you reading, your children are much more likely to become readers themselves.

KOA: What are the elements that makes a successful children's book successful?

Stu Smith: There are many factors that can contribute to a book's success, including an interesting plot, meaningful characters, colorful illustrations, humor, word play, fun rhymes, etc. Ultimately, a book is successful if it appeals to children.

KOA: How should parents shop for children's books?

Stu Smith: If your kids are school age, ask the teacher or school librarian for suggestions. There are many excellent web sites out there as well.

***************************