British writer and illustrator of children's books.
Having Anthony Browne writing for my Q&A section has been an experience I'd never have imagined! I enjoyed preparing the questions and hope his fans enjoy his answers.
I asked him about his books 'MyDad', 'My Mum', 'My Brother','Our Girl' and 'My Grandad'.
1. I read that the inspiration for 'My Dad' was a personal object that belonged to your father and you found years after his death. Is that right?
For a long time I had been wanting to write a book about my own dad, and this seemed like the perfect time to do it. I thought for a long time about how to compose the story, but couldn't decide on a suitable approach. Then one day I found an old suitcase of my mother's. Among the photo-graphs, birth certificates and other family documents that had been long hidden in the forgotten suitcase was Dad's old dressing gown. It was powerfully familiar, and although I had not consciously thought about it all this time, I recognized it from cameos in my books - most notably hanging from the wardrobe in Hansel and Gretel.
I took the dressing gown out of the case and held it, and was instantly transported back to the age of about five. For the first time in decades I remembered what it was like to be a young boy who thought his dad could do anything. It was a breakthrough, for I suddenly knew exactly how to make the book. The nostalgic effect of the dressing gown inspired me to write a story specifically about my own father and the way I felt about him as a young boy.
1b. What inspired you in the case of 'My Mum’?
I thought at the time that My Dad would be a one-off, but its tactical release around the time of Father's Day helped it to be a big seller, and in the light of this my publisher encouraged me to produce a follow-up. My Mum came less easily to me. Although I based the mother in the book loosely on my own (I didn't have a material garment on which to model the dressing gown this time, but the floral design that I came up with is similar to the one which I remember her wearing), I didn't feel I had so much of a personal relationship with the character in the book. It was harder to make fun of mothers. As a father myself, I felt comfortable portraying Dad as a silly, slightly overweight show-off, but it seemed risky applying the same treatment to women, so I approached the book somewhat tentatively, taking care to make Mum more admirable than clownish.
1c. What inspired you in the case of 'My Brother?
My Brother completed the trilogy. Again, the book didn't come naturally to me - to be honest, I had only ever thought the idea substantial enough to warrant a single book - but at least this time I had some inspiration other than just the projected sales.
Unsurprisingly, I based the book on the way I had viewed my brother when I was a child, but the story was also inspired by a group of Dutch children. Before I wrote My Brother I went to a school in the Netherlands, and the children showed me the work they had been doing with My Dad and My Mum. They had studied the two books and subsequently produced their own version of My Brother. I flicked through the book they had made and was impressed by the drawings, but not surprised to see that the story was written with exactly the same formula as My Mum and My Dad.
I turned to the last page, expecting the text to continue the predictable pattern which I had initiated (I love him and he loves me too'), but they had changed the ending brilliantly. Instead of my words, they had written, 'And do you know what? I'm cool too.' I loved it, and it was just the spark of inspiration I needed to ignite enthusiasm for the project.
2. Your books quite often include a family - probably your own -; how important is/was your family in your life?
I had a very happy childhood. My Dad died when I was 17 an occurrence that possibly made us a closer family. I have two children of my own and, at present, four grandchildren, we meet up regularly and spend a lot of time together.
3. If l am not mistaken, you do not have a sister so, who inspired you to write 'Our Girl’?
I never had a sister, hence the title ‘Our Girl’ not 'My Sister’. It seemed like a natural addition to the series.
4. Fortunately, my father was important to my children; my mother still is. Does 'My Grandad portray yours? Will there be 'My Grandma’?
I didn’t have a particularly strong connection to either of my grandparents. I think that’s why I wanted to open up the subject to include many different grandads. Will there be My Grandma? Who knows, I (sic) several ideas for new books at the moment, so not yet!
5. You have been writing picture books for many years, why are they still so popular?
I find it quite difficult to answer questions like this! In order to do so I looked up a few reviews that seem to sum it up:
'Anthony Browne's books remain popular due to their rich illustrations and psychological depth, which resonate with both children and adults. His storytelling often explores complex themes like fear and social dynamics, making his narratives relatable and thought-provoking.'
'Anthony Browne's unique ability to blend surreal imagery with everyday experiences captures children's imaginations while addressing their emotional realities.'
Anthony Browne's background in fairy tales enriches his work, allowing him to create modern adaptations that retain the original's powerful imagery.
Thank you Anthony!!
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