It's only been a month since HarperCollinsAustralia introduced ‘Two Little Bugs’ to Aussie readers, but Little Bug Red and Little Bug Blue have been making so many new friends and recieving some incredibly cool reviews. Mark and I are totally chuffed with the warm welcome across the ditch, even Little Bug Blue is doing a happy dance!
Tasman Anderson of the Gold Coast Bulletin, Australia recently interviewed Mark for an article about 'Two Little Bugs'. She had some great questions so I thought I'd share Mark's answers here ...
What made you decide to create a picture book focusing on bugs?
It wasn’t so much bugs I wanted to focus on but the idea of two characters seeing the world from opposite perspectives. The bugs just popped into my head when I realised a leaf provides the perfect environment for such a story with a brighter upside and a darker downside. I remember as a kid being fascinated by bugs too so it all came together pretty neatly.
What message are you trying to convey to your readers through your book?
I really don’t try to convey any messages in my books – sometimes I’m as surprised as the next reader by what I’ve written! I just have an idea I like and the rest often happens quite unconsciously. On the few occasions that I have tried to deliver a message in a story the writing somehow hasn’t been as good and usually ends up being put aside when a new idea comes along.
Two Little Bugs has a similar feel to Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, are you a fan of the book?
I admire Eric Carle’s artwork and know his Very Hungry Caterpillar book well – I’m sure I was read it a lot when I was little! (Hasn’t everyone?)
Which bug do you best identify with and why?
What a great question! I identify with both bugs very well as I have lived with the attitude and outlook of each of them at different times throughout my life. I have come to realise though that life is much more fulfilling and fun with an attitude like Bug Red! I have also come to believe that the best way to help other people starts by being honest with yourself, so that’s the character I most associate myself with these days.
What is it that you think readers love about “Two Little Bugs”?
Well based on feedback from my school visits and what other people have told me adults and kids love the book for pretty much the same reasons – they just use different words to describe it! Little kids say they love the bugs and the holes and that Bug Blue finally “sees the sun” then flies away happily with his new friend. Older readers have told me they really like the design and minimalist illustration of the book, the clever ending and the messages about perception, choice, and “coming out from under your leaf”. So they are kind of the same but just explained in a different way.
What do you think is your favourite part of Two Little Bugs?
My favourite part of the book is when Bug Blue finally sees the light. What I like most about this part is that Bug Red, while empathising with Bug Blue, never leaves the upside to join Bug Blue in the dark and cold. Bug Red is helpful and kind but at the same time stays true to it’s own calling (eating leaves is a noble cause for a caterpillar!). It is by being true to itself that Bug Red ultimately creates an opportunity for Bug Blue to find it’s own wings.
What are you hoping to achieve with this book?
I already achieved it! Having heaps of fun working with Rowan to create a book we feel really happy with and then sharing it with others. It is great that other people like it too and are happy to buy it, so I can buy a new pair of sneakers and have peanut butter on my toast.
How did you discover writing/illustrating as a passion?
I guess I have loved writing ever since I could string a sentence together! I have stories my mum kept from when I was 8 years old about time travelling sausage dogs, or cats who get lost in the woods while collecting butterflies! But it wasn’t until around my 30th birthday when I wrote my first story as a grown up that I realised I wanted to write books for a living.
Rowan had always wanted to draw picture books since she was young but didn’t think she would be good enough! She became an award-winning graphic designer but had never drawn a picture professionally (she used her computer for everything!). Then when we got together she discovered she could draw and she really loved doing it so, with a bit of time and practice she discovered her passion too!
If you could tell aspiring writers one thing, what would it be?
Rowan wanted to answer this – she says always appreciate and love your illustrator! (haha). But seriously, if you want to be a writer everyone’s going to have advice to offer you - whether they are writers or not! So, for what it is worth, my advice is this: don’t listen too much to advice! Listen to your heart. I reckon it’s only when you can’t hear what your heart is telling you that you should get some advice!
And here's a couple of those recent Aussie reviews....
“You happily get more than you bargain for with this crafty little book. It skillfully uses the text and illustrations to provide the reader with two simultaneous stories. Mark’s sweet text tells a story of two bugs who share a leaf. Rowan’s simple illustrations and die-cut pages depict the life cycle of a caterpillar. Each nibble of the leaf sees a hole in the pages grow larger and larger until only a chrysalis hangs from a stalk (This is a wonderful feature that will delight children with each turn of a page). Two Little Bugs cleverly and beautifully shares two points of view and amalgamates the life cycle of a caterpillar with the story of taking risks with a friend by your side. Together with cleverly designed pages, the themes of friendship, anxiety and life cycles will ensure that Two Little Bugs is a hit with children and families.” Jackie Small - MyLittleBookcase.com.au
“From the creators of the hilarious Baa Baa Smart Sheep and I Love Lemonade, comes this adorable little book about two little bugs and their little conundrum. Clever, insightful, delightfully subtle on the morals - something both kids and adults warmly appreciate - this book is so charmingly illustrated, it hurts your eyes. I simply adore its holey, chewed-upon and leaf-shaped pages, its beautiful colouring and the luscious paper used for its pages. Buggishly brilliant. Next please, Sommersets!”
Tania McCartney - Kids-BookReview.com You can read
more ballyhoo about ‘Two Little Bugs” here ...
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