Speed Interview with Lisa Robinson, Author of Pippa’s Night Parade

The Children’s Book Review | October 9, 2019

The Children’s Book Review: Which five words best describe Pippa’s Night Parade?

Lisa Robinson: Imagination-Creativity-Monsters-Books-Fashion

Can you share one highlight from the book? 

This is a book about a girl—Pippa—who has an active imagination that results in her scaring herself at bedtime (storybook monsters come out of her books!) Luckily, she’s able to use that same imagination (and her fashion and design skills) to take the scare out of the monsters. My favorite spread in the book is one in the middle where there is a bear chasing Pippa across her room. Pippa has attempted to hide in a wolf costume, but she’s no match for this ferocious bear. I love what Lucy Fleming has done with the illustrations in this book; on many of the pages, she’s added wonderful details that show how Pippa is trying to plan her way out of the problem she’s created.

What has been the best reaction from a reader, so far?

I’ll keep you posted when the book comes out!

Why do you think there can never be enough books about bedtime?

Bedtime is a never-ending challenge for parents and children! Parents want kids to go to bed. Kids don’t want to go to bed. Bedtime is a lovely time to wind down and snuggle with a good book. Kids love to see themselves reflected in books and since every kid has a bedtime. . . there’s always room for another bedtime book!

For your writing energy: sugar or salt, tea or coffee?

Coffee (and cheese. I love cheese!). And cookies, did I mention cookies?

Writing tools: computer, pen and paper, or all of the above?

I go from the computer to pen and paper and back again for most of my projects.

What’s on your nightstand? Any books?

There are way too many books on my nightstand. . . . Right now, it’s The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, The Secrets We Kept by Laura Prescott, The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone, and The Art of Slow Writing by Louise DeSalvo. And there’s one picture book on it, too: We Are Grateful by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac.

Can you tell us something that even your most loyal fans may not know about you?

We have a tightrope in our living room! Everyone in my family loves circus, and everyone in my family practices one form of circus art or another. My husband juggles, my kids juggle and do aerial arts and tightwire, and I do aerial silks. I haven’t yet been able to juggle three balls, but I keep trying.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I hope this book inspires parents and children to think about how we can use our imaginations to overcome anxieties like bedtime fears. Often we have the solution to these kinds of problems within ourselves if we think creatively. And if not, make sure to reach out to a pediatrician to discuss how to help children with bedtime fears.

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Pippa’s Night Parade

Written by Lisa Robinson

Illustrated by Lucy Fleming

Publisher’s Synopsis: Pippa’s wonderfully wild imagination is perfect for dreaming up wildly adorable creations. But at night, her imagination runs a little too wild. That’s when the villains and monsters and beasts sneak out of her storybooks to scare her. Pippa tries everything: from night-lights to triple knots to clever disguises. But when the baddies keep coming, she realizes she’ll need to come up with something new. To prepare for this battle, Pippa will have to use everything she’s got—especially that wild imagination. Ready or not, here she comes!

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Two Lions | October 8, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-1542093002

Buy the Book

About the Author

Lisa Robinson was born in Kampala, Uganda, to Peace Corps volunteers who later became world-traveling diplomats. When she was a child, her family moved frequently, so books became her best friends. She now works as a psychiatrist and writer. She holds an MFA in creative writing for young people from Lesley University. She is also the author of Pirates Don’t Go to Kindergarten!, illustrated by Eda Kaban, and has more books forthcoming. She lives in Massachusetts with her family and three cats. Learn more about the author at www.author-lisa-robinson.com, or on Twitter: @elisaitw.

About the Illustrator

Lucy Fleming, like Pippa, has a wonderfully wild imagination, which she uses to create illustrations for children’s books. She has illustrated more than twenty titles, including River Rose and the Magical Christmas by Kelly Clarkson and For the Beauty of the Earth by Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, which was a Junior Library Guild Selection. She is a graduate of the University of Lincoln in England. She lives and works in a small town in England with a cup of ginger tea in hand and her cat close by. Learn more about the illustrator at www.lucyflemingillustrations.com. Instagram: @illustratelucy