As the holidays approach and families are busy with shopping, winter break planning, life organizing and more, Chicago North Shore Moms takes this time to share Meet a Mom spotlights brought to you by our parent company, The Local Moms Network. Enjoy this great interview with famous children’s book author, Alyssa Satin Capucilli, AKA, the Biscuit book author.Â
If you have a new reader, chances are youâre familiar with the iconic Biscuit book series based on a playful golden retriever pup. Author Alyssa Satin Capucilli has penned over 80 titles, with 54 million copies sold, and she says it was all inspired by her own daughter.
âOne evening, my daughter was dog sitting for our neighborâs very big dog and wanted the dog to sleep at our home. She brought the dog a blanket, a doll, and all the things she liked before bedtime. As I watched her, I realized she was having a conversation with this dog as if the dog understood every word she said! It inspired me to create the first book about Biscuit,â shares Alyssa. In this weekâs Meet a Mom interview, we ask Alyssa about creating this iconic series as well as her popular Katy Duck series, advice she gives to parents of reluctant readers, and more.
We have to ask â do you have a favorite Biscuit book?
It is hard to choose a favorite, although that is a question Iâm frequently asked! Of course, the original Biscuit will always be especially near and dear to my heart.
Aw! How did becoming a mom inspire you to start writing?
Revisiting my own childhood favorite stories with my children and discovering new and wonderful books rekindled my love of story and literature. One day while reading to my son, he told me he wanted to be âas big as the sky.â That poetic snippet of words inspired me to pick up a pen and paper and begin to write.
Love that. Your background is in dance â how does being a dance impact your writing?
Creating a story and a character onstage is akin to creating the same only on paper. Thereâs also a similar âchoreographyâ when you write â characters come and go, some work together, some provide counterpoint. Setting, characters, plot are developed. As a dancer I think thereâs also an innate sense of flow, rhythm, and musicality that I try to bring to my work.
The discipline of a dancer, the practice of craft, made it second nature for me to sit down, open the notebook and face the page without outside motivation.
Why do you think Biscuit and Katy Duck, which our families love, resonates with so many kids?
Thank you! Thatâs so kind! Since you mentioned Katy Duck, I can say it is hard for me to read that one aloud without âdancingâ and enacting the story, especially Katy Duck is a Caterpillar. I love Katyâs creativity, imagination, and resilient spirit. Biscuit is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary this spring. I do sometimes pinch myself at how these books have been embraced by children, parents, educators, and librarians. I think the children see themselves in the character; heâs funny, sweet, loving, curious, and of course, sometimes mischievous! Thereâs also a blend of learning to read in a fun way with a character you love and enjoy. I now walk into classrooms where teachers have grown up reading Biscuit. Itâs incredibly gratifying.
Who are some of your other favorite childrenâs book authors?
I always loved dogs! Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary was a favorite. I identified with Henry as if he was a soulmate because I longed for a dog as much as he did. There are so many authors and books I love from the classic board books to the gorgeous language in All The World by Liz Garton Scanlon. I do love to find characters that resonate and stay with me. Iâm now a grandmother so perusing the bookstores and book festivals I visit is awesome. There are endless new authors, illustrators, and new discoveries to make.
What advice do you give to parents of reluctant readers?
Be patient. Visit the library or a book festival if you are able to. Read at home with your child and find stories that move you, that make you laugh, and make you wonder. Read a poem. Listen to audio books. I so often hear that it takes one book, the right book to create a lifelong reader. Reach out to a favorite author; I pen pal with readers of all ages and I know other authors and illustrators do as well. A book doesnât have to be a certain level or a specific number of words depending on your childâs age; it just has to touch you.
Whatâs next for you â is there a new Biscuit in the works?!
There is a new Biscuit in the works! This Spring, Biscuit Rides the Ferry in our 32nd My First I Can Read. Iâm excited that we now have new Biscuit stories that are Level 1 that are slightly more challenging for our readers. My Sister Goose is a new picture book from Astra Books due out this Spring that Iâm very excited about. And Iâm busy with new picture books and hopefully a new chapter book or two. Paws crossed!
Author Alyssa Satin Capucilli
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