The Children’s Book Review | February 14, 2019
Which five words best describe No Boring Stories?
Julie Falatko: Silly, Unboring, Gorgeously Illustrated, Autobiographical
Can you share a highlight from the book? Your thoughts on, or an excerpt of, your favorite sentence, paragraph, or page?
One of my favorite parts of No Boring Storiesis the story-within-the-story, which is an action-packed adventure that some of the characters are collaborating on. It was a lot of fun to think about how what each of those characters would add to a story they were writing, and I love the way illustrator Charles Santoso illustrated that story in a different style than the main story.
If you had to take a vacation with one of the characters from No Boring Stories, who would it be? Why?
I’d go on vacation with Babirusa, because she’d be game for anything, and wouldn’t try to derail the trip by bossing me around (Star-Nosed Mole), or sleeping in too late (Yeti Crab), shopping for bespoke suits (Giraffe-Necked Weevil), or being just too adorable (Bunny).
What has been the best reaction from a reader, so far?
A four-year-old girl told me No Boring Storiesis her favorite book, and that she demands it’s read to her every night. Then she opened the book because she wanted to show me her favorite page (it was the one where Bunny hides behind a bush). Then her mom told me that she doesn’t mind reading it every day. Which is the best!
What’s on your nightstand? Any books?
So many books! Right now I have Louisiana’s Way Homeby Kate DiCamillo, Odd One Outby Nic Stone, and When Dimple Met Rishiby Sandhya Menon waiting to be read. I also have my glasses, lip balm, a notebook and pencil, and…oh, apparently a CVS receipt from 2017.
For your writing energy: sugar or salt, tea or coffee?
In the morning, coffee and salt (in the form of buttered, salted toast). In the afternoon, tea and sugar (in the form of those dried mangos from Trader Joe’s). If I had to pick only one of those, it’d be coffee.
Writing tools: computer, pen and paper, or all of the above?
Definitely all of the above. I keep notebooks and pencils (pencils over pens, for sure) all over the house, in case inspiration strikes. When I walk the dogs, I have a stubby oversharpened pencil and an index card in my pocket. I like to figure out picture books on paper first. And then I revise them as I type them in to the computer. Sometimes I have to go back to paper and pencil if I’m having trouble getting the story right.
Can you tell us one more thing we may not know about No Boring Stories, your writing style, or yourself?
The characters in the first version of No Boring Storieswere all talking furniture. They were obscure and unknown furniture (like a credenza and a lowboy) who wanted to be recognized by the outside world, and their meeting is infiltrated by a sofa. The story has come a long way since then (and is much better because of it)!
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Written by Julie Falatko
Illustrated by Charles Santoso
Publisher’s Synopsis: A group of misfits takes a stand against sweet, cuddly, boring stories in this picture book by the critically acclaimed author of the Snappsy the Alligator series, Julie Falatko.
The unpopular animals have had enough. They want to be in a picture book! Stories about mommy-loving kitties and cuddly bunnies at bedtime are boring. Wouldn’t you rather hear about yeti crabs in robo suits and fierce babirusa princesses who fight giant grape monsters?! This group of misfits has a unique story to tell, but they’ll never finish writing it if their over-eager bunny neighbor won’t GO AWAY!
Julie Falatko, critically acclaimed author of the Snappsy the Alligator books, brings her signature humor to this stand-alone picture book about finding your tribe and writing the stories you want to see, no matter how weird or wild they are!
Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers | November 6, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0451476821
Available Here:
About the Author
Julie Falatko loves to talk about books. She has a library science degree, is a frequent contributor to the Nerdy Book Club, was a picture book reviewer, and started a Little Free Library in front of her house to share books with neighbors. She is the author of two Snappsy the Alligator titles, as well as the forthcoming The Great Outdoors and the Two Dogs in a Trenchcoat series.
This speed interview with Sharon Creech, author of Saving Winslow, was conducted by Bianca Schulze. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Charles Santoso, Humorous Books, Julie Falatko, Misfit, Picture Book, and Speed Interview.