Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Mike Wohnoutka !
Read on to learn more about the author , the book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Mike Wohnoutka
Mike Wohnoutka is the author-illustrator of So Big!, the Croc & Turtle books, and Dad’s First Day. He has illustrated more than thirty acclaimed books for children, including the Geisel Award winner See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog and its sequels, as well as How to Apologize, all written by David LaRochelle. Mike Wohnoutka lives in Minnesota.
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About the Book: Ups and Downs: A Book of Emotions
From delight to disgust, excitement to fear, worry to confidence, boredom to curiosity, feelings can shift in a heartbeat. Mike Wohnoutka’s simple words and tender, nuanced illustrations follow three young children as they traverse emotional highs and lows over the course of a school day. The wide spectrum of emotions covered—far beyond happy and sad—invites readers to share their own contradictory, unpredictable, ever-present feelings. Vetted by an expert in the science of children’s emotions, this day in the inner life of three kids encourages first steps toward emotional literacy and is a satisfying narrative that ends with the adorable trio converging after school in the park—ready for play!
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
I remember the exact moment that sparked the idea. My daughter was upset about some thing and I asked her what was wrong. She said, “Nothing. I’m just sad”. Maybe that was true or maybe she just didn’t want to tell me what was going on. Either way, it inspired an idea for a book that incorporated emotions. The first version was a book of opposites with some emotions. Fortunately, my wonderful editor, Andrea Tompa, nudged me to focus on just emotions and try to incorporate a narrative arc. The story slowly evolved into what became Ups and Downs: A Book of Emotions.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
Writing doesn’t get any easier. The thing I’ve learned is that you have to sit down and do the work. I started out as an illustrator and only thought about writing for the first 10 years of my career. I thought a great story idea would just pop into my head one day and I would quickly write it down and that would be my first authored book. Of course this never happened. It wasn’t until I joined a writer’s group did I begin to really start writing. For me, it works best when I carve out a little time each day to dedicate to writing my own stories.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2023?
I love art books, and one of my favorite illustrators, Peter de Seve, has a new one coming out in October – Local Fauna: The Art of Peter de Sève.
He is best known for his New Yorker magazine covers and character designs for Ice Age and other animated films.
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal. It’s funny, touching and filled with wonderful, compelling characters. It’s on par with his first two novels – which is saying a lot!
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I am currently working on the final art for MR. FOX’S GAME OF “NO” written by my good friend David LaRochelle. This book, along with GO AND GET WITH REX, also written by David, come out in 2024. I can’t wait. I feel very fortunate to be a part of these two brilliant stories – I can say this since I did not write them!
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?
Emotions can be hard to talk about, especially for kids. I don’t think there’s a specific message or lesson here, but I love the idea of this book starting a conversation about emotions. The Kirkus review for Ups and Downs summed up my hope for this book perfectly: “Adults sharing the book should encourage volunteers to discuss when they felt some of these emotions and what brought them on. Young readers will feel good about this book that mirrors everyday experiences.”
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
You know how when you have left-overs after a meal and you are cleaning up and putting them in a container, and you’re not sure if the container is big enough? Well, I don’t mean to brag, but I’m really good at picking out just the right size tupperware. My family always checks with me. “Will this fit in here?” And I tell them whether or not it will. Sometimes they question my judgment, but they go with it. I have an excellent track record. I’m known, all around my house, for this super power.
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?
Try to write everyday, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. I know this might sound silly, but often times that 10 minutes turns into 2 hours…or 11 minutes!
Book’s Title: Ups and Downs: A Book of Emotions
Author& Illustrator: Mike Wohnoutka
Release Date: 9/19/23
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN-10: 1536227374
ISBN-13: 9781536227376
Genre: picture book,
Age Range: ages 3-7
*Giveaway Details*
Three (3) winners will receive a hardback copy of Ups and Downs: A Book of Emotions (Mike Wohnoutka) ~ US/CAN only
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*
Great lesson for kids!
Great cover & summary – a good learning book for my niece!
The cover is cute and this sounds like a fun way to introduce readers to emotions.
Book looks awesome, think my twins will love it! Thanks for sharing
Our Head Start class has lots of big feelings this year–this book would be great to share with them.