Catherine Payne is a children's book author on Guam, the Pacific island, where she was born and raised. She and her brother, John Payne II, wrote the picture book Mole and Tell, illustrated by Elisa Rocchi (Science, Naturally!, 2023). It celebrates Mole Day (October 23) through the popular classroom activity of show and tell. To learn more about the book, connect with Catherine @cathyapayne on Instagram and Twitter.
1. How do you know your idea will make a good book?
A good picture book idea is original and memorable, so I assess the plot, characters, message, and potential for artwork. To that end, I consider whether the premise will appeal to adults who will be reading the book and children who will be listening to it. Ideally, the premise should be specific but have a universal appeal.
2. What kind of student were you? What were your favorite subjects?
As a student, I was a little too serious. I was a bit hard on myself when I earned disappointing grades and when I got rejected by my dream college. Looking back, I wish that I had given myself more grace. My favorite subjects were language arts, science, and social studies. I still love those subjects today!
3. What one piece of advice would you like to give to aspiring kidlit authors?
I recommend reading inside and outside your genre. It is important to be aware of writing conventions and market trends in your genre. At the same, you can learn writing techniques and get ideas by reading other genres. For example, I read different kinds of poetry to learn how to write lyrical picture books.
4. Where did you get the idea for this book? What was your inspiration?
I thought Mole Day was a fun science holiday with a cute mole mascot and mole puns. (Puns have cracked me up since elementary school!) When I couldn’t find a picture book about Mole Day, I decided to write one. I asked my brother to write the book with me so that we could brainstorm ideas for the plot and characters.
5. Was this always the title for this project?
Yes, I came up with the title before the story. Several years ago, I worked as a copy editor who wrote headlines for newspapers. I used a journalistic technique for putting a twist on a well-known phrase to come up with a fresh title. Fortunately, it led to the idea of show and tell on Mole Day.
6. If you read this book to a room filled with kids, what message would you want them to leave with?
Science is an important and fascinating subject. There are many ways to learn about science, from facts to formulas. Yes, we can listen to lectures, read textbooks, and conduct experiments. At the same time, we can read picture books and enjoy a funny pun or two. Have fun with science!
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