The Young Ambassador of Poetry Returns: A Q&A with Micha Archer on What’s New, Daniel?

Sometimes on this site I feature author or illustrators that I have discussed in some capacity multiple times. And then sometimes I have a chat with someone with whom I have never spoken before. Today’s post falls into the latter category.

In my library, each new Micha Archer book is held aloft like some holy tablet when it arrives on our shelves. My children’s librarians venerate her work. I would not be overstating the case if I were to say that she is, without a doubt, vastly beloved. Her books and illustrations carry with them an ability to appeal to the youngest of ages, while at the same time coming across as visually stimulating and interesting to adults as well. As you might imagine, she’s received copious awards for her work, including the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award for Daniel Finds a Poem, and a Caldecott Honor for Wonder Walkers.

Speaking of Daniel, did you know that there’s a new Daniel book out right now? What’s New Daniel? has already gathered the customary rave reviews, as is right. Horn Book said of it, “From the spectacular illustrations to the warm relationship between Daniel and Grandpa to Daniel’s curiosity about the natural world, there’s much to savor here; and the question of ‘what’s new?’ may elicit a wealth of reader response and interaction,” while Kirkus said, “Featuring appealing, child-centered text and lush visuals, this tale will surely lead readers to more adventurous investigations of their own… A beautiful invitation to spring for the curious nature lover.”

I’ve a colleague who would probably take vast offense if I passed up the chance to speak with Micha about this pretty little title, and to be honest, they needn’t push at all. Today, we’re in conversation with the one and only Micha Archer:

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Betsy Bird: Micha! Huge thanks to you for talking with me today! I’m just so interested in talking to you about your latest. Much of what’s so nice about WHAT’S NEW, DANIEL? is the way you weave what’s new in the spring with what’s new for a small child. It personalizes the change of seasons in a way that I’ve never really seen before (and I have read a LOT of springtime picture books). Where did the idea for this book first originate? What’s its origin story?

Micha Archer: Hi Betsy,

You have the best questions Betsy. Thank you so much for choosing my book to talk about on your blog. You are my first interview for WHAT’S NEW DANIEL?!!

The origins of this book….hmmmm, I guess I love how literal kids can be, like when I told my 2-year-old niece we were going to have lunch in the mouth of the cave and she said “Do caves have mouths? This question ended up in my book WONDER WALKERS. I can easily imagine a five year old answering the question “ What’s new? “ with “ Hmmm, I don’t know, I’ll go find out!” It was a chance to create scenes of Spring for Daniel to roam in. My editor Nancy Paulsen added so many great ideas to the story like- the snake losing his skin after Daniel show’s him his loose tooth. I also love that I can make inanimate object like rocks and cattails talk because they do tell us things just not with words. A warm rock is saying I’ve been in the sun all day. Also putting something that I love to do in a book is a way to share it with everyone. We swim in this wonderful cold clear lake near us and are always thankful for the sun-warmed rocks to lie around on afterwards.

BB: Daniel has become such an important character that you keep returning to in your stories. Did you always envision that he’d have more than one book, or has he surprised you by popping up again and again?

MA: I think I knew he was going to come back again after DANIEL FINDS A POEM, and again with DANIEL’S GOOD DAY and now again with WHAT’S NEW, DANIEL. In the first book I got to know and like him so much. Nancy my editor called him a young ambassador of poetry. Daniel the character is inspired by own my curious little boy, my son Max, who was always asking questions of everyone and about everything. We called him the anthropologist. Writing these books is like a visit with my little boy who is big now. And of course it was strongly encouraged by my agent and editor. I know I loved when little Peter from the SNOWY DAY made a reappearance in subsequent books.

BB: Lest there be any doubt at all, I’m stealing that phrase “young ambassador of poetry” forthwith. You know, my library has an award that it gives out every year to our favorite books that encourage kids to have a love of science and nature called the Blueberry Awards. Of course, it can be incredibly difficult to locate books for younger readers that naturally include this sense of wonder with the world without feeling ponderous or didactic. Your books weave nature into their storylines so naturally, it just feels effortless (though I think we all know how hard what you’re doing actually is). Can you tell me a little bit about why you do it? Why does nature play such an outsized role in your stories?

MA: Nature and me go way back. I grew up in a very active family. I had 3 older brothers and a younger sister. My mother was adamant that we stay outside and play outside probably so she could have some peace. We had a rope swing in a huge maple with a treehouse in it. We took many, many camping trips and car trips to mountains all over the world. I have photos of me hiking in the Himalayas at 5, a volcano in Mexico at 9 and Colorado at 4 . I live now at the base of a small mountain who I consider a friend of mine. We know it so well we hardly ever walk on a trail when we climb it. And we spend months each year at the base of the highest mountain in Costa Rica.  I find solace in Nature and love the challenge of trying to capture things like trees and water and reflections in my work.

I know that nature helps calm people, its immensity puts us in our place. Its endless possibilities are wondrous and I think children know that more than anyone. We older people forget that. So this is to honor our young scientists; always wondering and questioning. It’s an homage to them. I’ve always had a hard time with didactic books and I work really hard to avoid preaching at all costs. My secret? I leave a lot to the pictures and use as few words as possible.

BB: Another thing we’re always looking for at my library are books where nature and urban living are one and the same. Your book almost feels like a companion to THE BOY WHO DIDN’T BELIEVE IN SPRING in this way (albeit separated by around fifty years). How do you integrate the city with the story in a book like WHAT’S NEW, DANIEL?

MA: I love that book!(THE BOY WHO DIDN’T BELIEVE IN SPRING) I haven’t read it in years. Lucille Clifton is wonderful.So great at dialog!

I was definitely influenced by Ezra Jack Keats (THE SNOWY DAY).  His books were always set in the city. I knew I wanted to set my book in a city so my readers would be comfortable but I wanted nature to play a big part. In my Daniel books, Daniel loves the city park. I wanted to find a way to honor parks which like libraries are for anyone and everyone. Hopefully my books will encourage young readers to go to the park with their families or have their teacher’s take them.

BB: I don’t often ask this of illustrators, but with you I’m particularly curious. Who were some of your favorite picture book illustrators growing up? And who do you consider your influences today?

MA: In the past – Evelyn Ness, Leo Lionni, Astrid Lindgren Arnold Lobel, Brian Wildsmith, Ezra Jack Keats and many many more

These days –  Ed Young, Ekua Holmes, Evan Turk, Bryan Collier, Enid Blyton and many many more

BB: Finally, will we be seeing more of Daniel in the future? And what else are you working on these days?

MA: Not yet, no Daniel book ideas have been surfacing although the Lucille Clifton book gave me a little seed of an idea. I am working on a book of Anne Wynter’s right now. She wrote NELL PLANTS A TREE and  EVERYBODY IN THE RED BRICK BUILDING. It’s called WHILE WE’RE HERE, a beautiful book about slowing down. It takes place in a park also! I am loving working on someone else’s book. I recently illustrated 2 books with Patricia MacLachlan.  It’s strangely freeing to not be able to change the words. Patricia lived near by and we became good friends. She died last year and is sorely missed. I just finished another book of my own about the wind, THE WAYS OF THE WIND and we (my editor Nancy Paulsen) and I) were working on the word changes up until the last second. Words! Words! Words! Endless possibilities!

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Now THAT is the kind of attitude we like to see, people! Plus I’m enormously chuffed that my off-handed comment about The Boy Who Didn’t Believe in Spring might have planted the seed of an idea in Ms. Archer’s noggin.

What’s New Daniel? is on shelves absolutely everywhere and it’s an ideal spring book. If you’re feeling the pall of winter, put it behind you and pick up this book. Extra thanks to Kaitlin Kneafsey and the folks at Penguin Young Readers for helping to put all this together. And thanks, of course, to Ms. Archer for taking the time to answer all my questions today.

Words! Words! Words!

Filed under: Interviews