Do you remember your favorite book from your childhood?
I remember enjoying a number of books as a child, but One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Suess was my favorite. This beginner book still actually makes me smile today.
Not only did I enjoy hearing the book’s whimsical rhyming words and looking at its colorful illustrations, but I always got a kick out of the questions Dr. Seuss encouraged young readers to ask their parents. For example: “Why are they sad and glad and bad? I do not know. Go ask your dad.”
These questions made me comfortable with asking questions, even when I believed they were silly. One Fish, Two Fish also gave me permission to imagine the who, what, and why details of the characters’ lives.
Now that I’m an author, I hope that Clucky Comes Home has the same impact on today’s young readers. From being the star of a rodeo to soaring with hawks, this book is full of colorful illustrations that push the boundaries of what can happen in the life of an ordinary chicken. Honestly, I feel excited when a picture of Clucky makes me giggle, because allowing ourselves to have the freedom to be silly unlocks a world of possibilities.
Think about it: the first sketches for the Wright Brothers flying machine had to be very funny to someone.
I hope Clucky’s daydreams (no matter how big they seem) encourage future generations to think outside the box, too.