Oh PICTURE BOOKS! Canada-Interview and Giveaway with Mary McKenna Siddals

I recently read (review copy provided by the publisher) Compost Stew, written by Mary Mckenna Siddals and Illustrated by Ashley Wolff, to my grand-daughter. She loved it and so did I. As a writer I was in awe of how Mary took the alphabet and the how to make compost and mixed them into a magical picture book that was a delight to read aloud and share. The rhythm and language of the book contributed in no small part to that and added a depth to the experience that made this an instant favourite. And...the education value that flowed from the pages was amazing and added yet another level to the experience provided. Easy to follow, what to do to make Compost Stew. The illustrations are a collage of materials that can be used for composting and my grand-daughter and I loved going through the book a second time so we could have a good long look and discussion on each page. Those illustrations are vibrant, filled with color and action that work together with the text, doing exactly what makes picture book magic. We finished up the final read through with the girl saying "Oh Grandma, I love worms." Plus, she wanted to add making compost to our to-do list (I was visiting for the week). Highly recommended from me--for your local library, for your personal library as a fun book just to read, as a book to use for making your own stew.  And did I mention there is a page that has a recipe for Frozen Lemon Pie? Oh yeah.


And now-on with the interview!


Thanks so much for being here to do this, Mary. Very exciting to be launching Oh PICTURE BOOKS! Canada and thrilled to have you on board. Delighted to be here, Deb, and honoured to be on board for the launch… so let’s launch into it! LOL, Mary...

The specific book being given away is Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth (details at end of interview). Can you tell us a little bit about how this book came to be?  Did you love playing in the dirt as a child, in general. Growing up, my family didn’t compost, but in hindsight, I think that may have been because various circumstances simply weren’t conducive to it. And although I loved being connected to nature – playing outdoors, collecting autumn leaves, eating raspberries right off the bush – I most certainly was not fond of mucking about in the dirt.

So what, then, inspired me to begin composting? My mother made me do it. Literally. Many years ago, she came for a visit, observed that I wasn’t composting, and seemed determined to have me start. I protested vigorously – it would be too unsightly, smelly, complicated, time-consuming, hard! – but, ignoring my every objection, she simply collected a bowlful of kitchen scraps, then unceremoniously dumped them into a corner of my yard, thus establishing my first compost heap.

This was a brilliant strategy on her part, for if I was too lazy to start a compost heap, I would naturally also be too lazy to dismantle one, and sure enough, by the time she left, our compost heap was well-established and virtually maintaining itself, with the kids cheerfully adding more kitchen scraps and my husband dutifully contributing yard waste, leaving Mother Nature to do all the hard work… and letting me off scot-free! I was hooked.

Though we now use a composter (bears are a very real concern here), not much else has changed. I’m still a lazy, er, that is, a proponent of “passive composting”, meaning that I really do just add to the pot and let it all rot… and eventually it always does. In the meantime, however, while my compost was a-stewin’, my thoughts began a-brewin’…Could I come up with compostable items for every letter of the alphabet? Could I work them into a picture book? Could I fit them into a recipe format? Could I keep it entertaining? Could I make it all rhyme? The challenge was irresistible, and the result was Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth. The manuscript continued to evolve over time, then sat dormant for a while before finally connecting with the right publisher, Tricycle Press, and the perfect illustrator, Ashley Wolff, who brought it to vivid life with her stunningly detailed collages. I’m simply thrilled with our beautiful book, and so grateful for the nudge that started it all.Thanks, Mom!


Yes indeed on your Mom! And you did what you set out to do-what team work to bring it all together...a creative stew.


What are some recent environmental tie-ins for your book that you’ve found particularly fun to be a part of? In celebration of Earth Day, we hosted a big blog tour and giveaway, which shone a generous green spotlight on Compost Stew and generated lots of interest all across cyberspace. Contrary to the old stereotypes, composting isn’t just for granola-crunching tree-hugging hippie-types anymore! In fact, it’s actually quite remarkable how rapidly awareness of composting is spreading, turning it into a readily-accepted mainstream practice. I’ve been endlessly fascinated by the many innovative products that have been reinvented to make them compostable – from lunch trays and birdhouses to sneakers and wedding gowns! – and the many innovative projects that are sprouting up all around the globe as people everywhere spread a little green in the world with composting. Airports, zoos and universities compost. The Seattle Mariners compost. The Barenaked Ladies compost. Thanks to First Lady Michelle Obama, even the White House composts! Illustrator Ashley Wolff and I maintain a Facebook page for Compost Stew  where we feature links to these kinds of fascinating tidbits of compost news.


I’m particularly excited, however, about one special connection that Compost Stew has made with the Aberdare RangesPrimary School in Kenya , which was established by an Australian charity for the refugee children of the region. Recently, I was contacted by their librarian, who asked if I might like to donate a copy of Compost Stew to their fledgling school library. The students, who are each given a one metre square garden plot to tend, were learning about composting as a means to recycle their rubbish into a usable resource, and she felt that the unique approach taken by Compost Stew would help them to better understand the process. I was, of course, thrilled for the opportunity to donate a copy of the book to such a worthwhile cause, and find it both humbling and gratifying to think that Compost Stew is contributing in some small way to this wonderful project that's making such a big difference in the lives of so many children. Compost Stewpendous!


Wow, Mary. Yes--how wonderful to be able to help out in this way! For those of you interested here is a video of the school she is speaking of. Inspiring.

The first book I ever read from you was when I worked at the library. Millions of Snowflakes is the name of that book. It’s difficult to craft a story in so few words. Was this no exception for you and how much part of the process were you once the illustrator was selected with this and the rest of your picture books. You might be surprised at how long it can take a picture book author to wrestle so few words into shape! I don’t remember the timeline for Millions of Snowflakes (1998) specifically, but with my concept books in general, although the idea and framework may come to me quickly, the text tends to evolve much more slowly, as I choose my words very deliberately. Even once a manuscript is essentially finished, I may continue to fine-tune endlessly – for weeks, months, even years – before I’m satisfied that I’ve got every word exactly right.

As for the illustration process, typically, authors have no involvement whatsoever, and that certainly was my early experience. As with my first picture book, Tell Me a Season (1997), I never even saw any of the artwork for Millions of Snowflakes until the book was finished! Fortunately, I loved Elizabeth Sayles’ beautiful pastel illustrations, as did the critics, and Millions of Snowflakes quickly became a perennial favourite, still in print more than 12 years later.

Fast-forward to the publication of Compost Stew (2010) for an entirely different experience. My editor at Tricycle Press included me in the process from the start, keeping me closely informed and sharing the progress of the artwork via email. From early sketches to first pages to finished collages, watching the book evolve was a real treat, and I was surprised and delighted at each step of the way. I could never have imagined all the rich detail that Ashley Wolff cooked up for Compost Stew, and I was simply thrilled to see my words being brought to such vivid life with her wonderful visual interpretation. When a last minute request for an author photo caught me off guard, I was even emboldened to ask whether Ashley might consider collaging our portraits instead… which she did, providing the perfect whimsical finishing touch to accompany our jacket flap bios.


Picture book reading and sharing is always a joy. Are there any recent reads that you would recommend we be sure to get for our library collection and young patrons and their families? Have a childhood favourite picture book writer and or illustrator? So many great books, it’s hard to pick favourites, but since you asked specifically for recent reads, I’ll try to contain my enthusiasm and limit myself to just a handful of current standouts. I’ve been recently smitten by the absolutely charming How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills, as well as the downright endearing Finn Throws a Fit by David Elliott, both books for the younger set. At the other end of the picture book spectrum, I was particularly impressed by two nonfiction titles for older readers, the utterly captivating The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull, and the totally fascinating I Feel Better with a Frog in my Throat: History’s Strangest Cures by Carlyn Beccia. Finally, back at the younger end again, I must mention Canadian author Deborah Hodge’s Up We Grow! A Year in the Life of a Small Local Farm, a simply delightful photo-essay that reeled me right in with its engaging text and inviting pictures.

As for a childhood favourite, I’m rather surprised to realize that I don’t actually recall reading many picture books as a kid, or even having them read to me, though I do remember an anthology of children’s stories and poems that was especially well-loved and often-read, and I have many fond memories of my parents telling me stories from their own childhoods. One picture book, however, does stand out in my memory, A Present for the Princess by Janie Lowe Paschall and illustrated by Elizabeth Webbe. Though it’s just a humble little dime store book, now long out of print, it totally enchanted me with its touching story and sweet illustrations, and remains close to my heart, one of my most cherished possessions to this day.


And the final...what is your writing space like? How do you start your writing day (or night? or both?) Although I do have a desk where I take care of any writing business that can’t be managed without a computer – research, marketing, communications – my creative work is rarely confined to that spot. As a writer of spare picture books, I more often simply carry my manuscripts around in my head, so my actual “writing space” becomes entirely portable. I especially like to ponder my writing while I’m out for a walk, working the words of a manuscript to the beat of my feet, repeating them rhythmically until I’m home again, then writing them down in a rush while they’re still fresh in my mind. Likewise, I’ll sometimes reread a manuscript right before turning out the lights at night, then lie in bed playing with the text, mentally writing and revising as I drift off to sleep, a process punctuated by my popping up to jot down any sudden inspirations, lest they evaporate before morning. Day or night, when I’m preoccupied with a picture-book-in-progress, I simply jump in wherever and whenever it sneaks up on me and demands my attention.


Right now, however, I’m at my desk, wrapping up this interview, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks so much for the opportunity to connect with your readers, Deb. I’m delighted to have been invited to the launch of Oh PICTURE BOOKS! Canada, and wish you much success with this exciting new feature spotlighting Canadian picture book creators.


To learn more about Mary please check out her website!  


To win a copy of COMPOST STEW, comment by next Wednesday, July6 @ Midnight MST. Open to U.S. and Canada.


From the interview, Mary's recommends :