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    www.crackingthecover.com

    ‘Otis’ author Kathi Appelt inspired by stepfather

    2
    By Jessica on January 6, 2015 author interview, picture books

    Kathi Appelt photoThe idea of a “traditional” family isn’t so traditional anymore. Families have become whatever works best for each individual unit. One group that is often underrepresented is stepparents. Author Kathi Appelt aims to rectify that in her new book, “When Otis Courted Mama.”

    “When Otis Courted Mama” is the story of Cardell, a coyote whose life is mostly wonderful, except for sticker burrs and sand fleas. Cardell’s parents live in different parts of the desert, but he knows he’s loved, and he’s used to how things are. That all changes when Otis comes calling.

    “I was working on a different project when I started thinking about my stepfather, George,” Kathi told Cracking the Cover. “The more I thought about him, the more I realized that for the most part, stepparents in children’s books typically show up as antagonists. While George wasn’t perfect, he was still a great stepfather. And I know that he’s not the only stepparent out there who did his best. I think parenting is hard, and stepparenting strikes me as being really hard. So, I wanted to write a story that featured a perfectly good stepparent. Not perfect, but perfectly good.”

    Kathi’s book has a distinct Southwest feel. “I love the American southwest,” she said. “I think it’s mysterious, but above all it has a wonderful ‘vocabulary.’ The different flora and fauna have a terrific sound to them.”

    And the use of coyotes instead of humans as main characters ties things all together. “I chose coyotes specifically because they’re scrappy. They’re not necessarily cute and fluffy. And I think families are rather like coyotes in that they too are probably more scrappy than they are cute and fluffy.”

    WhenOtisCourtedMama coverAs is common with most picture books, Kathi didn’t collaborate on the illustrations.

    “I always have a picture in my mind when I write, but I could never have imagined the wonder of Jill McElmurry’s art,” she said. “Her renderings of Cardell and the other coyotes, and the way she caught the essence of the desert far exceeded any of my visions.”

    Kathi writes for young people for a number of reasons, but mostly she appreciated their curiosity. “Everything with young readers is new, so it’s a challenge for me to think of something new to give them. I love that.”

    As the author of more than 40 books for children, Kathi sometimes looks back at her work and wonders where it came from. “Then I look forward and wonder what there is to say. But then something always shows up and it often surprises me. I never know, really, what a story is going to be until I get it down on the page. It’s always been that way. The mystery is that there is always another story to tell. Thank goodness.”

    Kathi’s books are written for a variety of age groups, each one tailored to the audience Kathi is talking to. “I think each age has its own interests and its own wonders. I wouldn’t say that one is more difficult than another. In fact, I’ve always thought that toddlers and teenagers are quite a bit alike. They’re both yearning for independence, they’re both dealing with huge physical and intellectual growth, they’re both prone to big mood swings. So, I’m not convinced that they’re all that different. Then there’s that group right in the middle that is so golden, and so mellow compared to their younger and older siblings. But even they have their unique tendencies.”

    Read the complete transcript of Kathi’s interview with Cracking the Cover.

    Find a full-color door hanger and other fun downloadables at kathiappelt.com.

    Kathi Appelt is the New York Times best-selling author of more than 40 books for children and young adults. Her picture books include “Oh My Baby, Little One,” illustrated by Jane Dyer, and the Bubba and Beau series, illustrated by Arthur Howard. Her novels for older readers include two National Book Award finalists: “The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp” and “The Underneath,” which was also a Newbery Honor Book. She is on the faculty in the Masters of Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in College Station, Texas. To download a free, CCSS-aligned curriculum guide, visit Kathi’s website at kathiappelt.com.

    Visit these other sites for more about Cardell and Kathi Appelt:

    Monday, Jan. 5 — 5 Minutes for Books
    Tuesday, Jan. 6 — Cracking the Cover
    Wednesday, Jan. 7 — Sharpread
    Thursday, Jan. 8 — Unleashing Readers
    Friday, Jan. 9 — Once Upon a Story
    Saturday, Jan. 10 — Booking Mama
    Monday, Jan. 12 — Geo Librarian
    Tuesday, Jan. 13 — The Late Bloomer’s Book Blog and NC Teacher Stuff
    Wednesday, Jan. 14 — Teach Mentor Texts
    Thursday, Jan. 15 — Kid Lit Frenzy
    Friday, Jan. 16 — The Fourth Musketeer

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    Jessica
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    Jessica Harrison is the reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. She loves books and worked as the in-house book critic at a daily newspaper, writing reviews and interviewing authors for two years. When the company cut back, she lost her position covering books, but that doesn't mean she stopped reading. If anything, the whole experience made her more passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices. She has been featured on NetGalley's Blogger Spotlight and is on Kindleprenuer's Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs. Contact her at jessica(at)crackingthecover(dot)com and follow Cracking the Cover on Bluesky, Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter (X) @crackingthecovr. You can also read scaled down reviews on Jessica's Goodreads review page. Jessica is also a reviewer on Amazon.

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    2 Comments

    1. Kathi Appelt on January 6, 2015 10:21 am

      Jessica, thank you so much for your wonderful review and for inviting me to be part of your terrific blog.
      I feel like the stars are all lined up!
      KA

      Reply
    2. Andrea on January 6, 2015 12:01 pm

      I love hearing the inspiration behind an author’s work. Thanks for the review! I look forward to checking out the book with my kiddos.

      Reply
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