Scaredy Squirrel author talks to Scarborough students
March 5, 2009
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Kristin Rushowy
EDUCATION REPORTER
Mélanie Watt answers kids’ questions:
Do you have a cat?
No, I have a parrot called Kiwi; they would not get along! But I grew up with a cat, although not as big a cat as Chester..... My parrot always likes to be on my shoulder, and likes to eat all my pencils.
If you weren’t an author, what would you be doing?
I would probably be working in an office, working in advertising, and publicity.....I had no clue I was going to be an author one day, but I did like to draw, I did that from a young age..... I had not planned for (this career), I wanted to be a vet, a lawyer, or go into advertising but I ended up writing children’s books. It’s exciting now because I’m working on a television show.
Are you scared like Scaredy Squirrel?
Yes, sometimes. I don’t like public speaking, I’m afraid of that. Sharks are a problem - it’s just the movie, it has stayed in my head for so many years for some reason and I’m not a big fan of swimming in the ocean.
I do wash my hands often, but I can still touch stuff. Little things -I like my hair to be okay, I’m afraid constantly of having something stuck in my teeth. Every time when we go out for dinner or meet new people, that’s definitely one. Little things I think definitely everyone can relate to.
Why do you want Chester to write your books?
Because it’s funny - if there’s no contradiction, there’s no humour in a way. Part of the Scaredy humour is that it’s so exaggerated, but part of Chester’s humour is the same thing - he exaggerated, and he’s defying authority.
There’s always a mix - there are always things that Scaredy is afraid of that you could go `yeah, me too,’ but others are like `why would he be afraid of that?’ In a way, being afraid of things is not having the education about that thing. That’s what I try to do, and I hope kids discover that on their own. I want kids to go `why is he afraid of that?’ - that’s a good question to ask yourself in life. Why am I afraid of something in my teeth? Or public speaking? What’s the worst that could happen?
In a way, that’s what (Scaredy’s) playing dead is: when you are really in a panic, just stop and take that moment to do nothing and you’ll see it’s not that bad, or just to let it sink in.
Where does Scaredy Squirrel live?
In his nut tree, in the unknown - it could be pretty much everywhere.
What is your favourite book you wrote?
The first Scaredy Squirrel for me was my first funny book ever, so that remains my favourite. It’s totally different from anything else I did. I had a lot of fun working on it.
(Question from reporter Kristin Rushowy) Do kids' questions ever stump you? I was asked if I had a tattoo, that was funny. What I hear most from letters and from teachers is that the books inspire kids to write their own Scaredy story, so they make their own version like 'Scaredy gets a girlfriend,’ or 'Scaredy runs for president,’ or they have their own ideas of Scaredy meets Chester. So that’s mostly it, that it inspires kids who don’t usually like to read. I was probably one of those kids, I wasn’t a big reader, I was more of a visual person.
WARNING! Scaredy Squirrel creator Mélanie Watt would prefer if you used hand sanitizer before reading this article. And please, please don’t talk about sharks.
The author and artist of the hit book series about a neurotic squirrel who prefers the safety of his nut tree but does venture out into the world - to find that it’s not so bad - has just released the third installment, Scaredy Squirrel at Night, and recently got the go-ahead for a 26-episode animated TV show and shorts with Corus Entertainment and Nelvana Studios.
“We’re working on the development of the stories and the visuals and the characters; (Scaredy Squirrel) is going to have friends so it’s a different approach,” Watt said in an interview this week after visiting Brookside Public School in Scarborough, her only school visit this year.
“He’ll have dialogue, so it’s discovering what is his voice, how does he talk, is he kind of shy? We’re really in the beginning process of figuring this out. It’s a new experience - it’s fun and scary too, but nice to see it come to life.”
Not bad for Watt, 33, who didn’t set out to become a children’s author. She was studying graphic design and thinking of a career in advertising when a university professor encouraged her to submit a school project on colours to Kids Can Press. Leon the Chameleon became the first of 12 books she’s written, illustrated and won numerous awards for. Scaredy Squirrel is published around the world in 11 languages.
She says the books reflect our society of fear. And while children provide great fodder, “I’m inspired, too, by adults,” Watt said.
“It’s not easy making friends and socializing, or wanting to make a perfect first impression or going to an interview. Usually most of the things that adults experience, like fear, kids do in their own way. There’s a parallel there.”
Watt’s own fears include public speaking, food stuck in her teeth and sharks. “It’s just the movie (Jaws),” she said. “It has stayed in my head for so many years for some reason and I’m not a big fan of swimming in the ocean.
“I do wash my hands often, but I can still touch stuff.”
As a child, Watt loved drawing and used her art as a way to break the ice at school each time her family moved. She was born in Trois Rivieres, Que., but has also lived in Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal, where she now resides with her husband.
“When I was a kid, we moved a lot: nine times in four years, so I was always the new kid in school. I would draw Garfield and it helped me make friends. I would draw on their hands” at recess.
Watt says the inspiration for Scaredy Squirrel came from her mother’s side of the family, whom she describes as “extra-cautious.”
“My mom was always telling me to be really, really careful about everything,” she told the students. “But sometimes being afraid of stuff means you aren’t out there trying stuff.”
Modern life, too, provided her with the idea for the billboard-type warnings that begin each Scaredy Squirrel book, where the character asks kids to brush their teeth or check under their beds before reading.
Her books aren’t the usual children’s fare: they are visually driven, full of arrows, asides, text wrapped around images and lists (Scaredy presents a dog with a list of things that make a safe, germ-free friend, which the dog chews up). The writing is witty; there’s always a gag and a bit of gentle social commentary that adults appreciate.
“In the friend story, I knew I wanted a test and to poke fun at tests and ink blots and things like that; I knew I wanted to do some kind of ridiculous test.”
Watt receives emails from therapists who use the books with children and Scaredy Squirrel has been recommended by a Harvard bookstore as a great graduation gift.
Watt told the Brookside students that she’s going to start working on another Scaredy Squirrel story this week.
Grade 6 student Bilal Rahaman said he likes Watt’s books, including the hilarious Chester series about a cat who tries to rewrite Watt’s ideas.
“I like Scaredy Squirrel because (the books) have a sense of humour and it’s not like other books that are out there,” said the 11-year-old.
“Teachers were mesmerized too,” said teacher-librarian Lana Peck after Watt’s second presentation at the school. “We’ve all read her books, they have a great appeal for all levels.”
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