Eli and the Bug Catcher is a delightful children's book that follows a young boy as he uses his bug catcher to explore the fascinating world of insects. Through Eli's vivid imagination, young readers learn and retain fun facts about bugs and their natural habitats. The author, Danielle Kaplan, who happens to be an old friend of Nikki, our co-owner, took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about writing the book.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to write this book? The idea of Eli and the Bug Catcher began during the Covid-19 pandemic when my family and I were sheltering in place. At the time, my two children were ages 3 and 5 and we would often find ourselves outside playing with bubbles, sidewalk chalk, or a bug catcher kit. My youngest son really took to capturing lightning bugs in the bug catcher kit. It brought him so much joy which also came with questions – what kind of bug is this, what does it eat, where does it live. These moments were my inspiration for the book and helped me stay true to the character.
Tell us a brief summary of what your book is about. Eli And The Bug Catcher follows a young boy who uses his bug catcher to explore the world of bugs. Eli’s imagination helps young readers (and their parents) learn and retain fun facts about bugs and their environments.
What age group is your book intended for, and what do you hope young readers will take away from it? The book is ideal for young readers, ages 2-7. My hope is to inspire their curiosity to look, touch and explore the world of bugs and insects.
·What was your writing process like for this book? Did you have a set routine or any particular rituals that helped you write? Since my writing process began during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, there were moments when I had a lot of spare time. I would often observe my youngest son playing outside and I would jot some notes down as I listened to him ask or answer questions. His innocence made me chuckle, and I then turned those moments into ideas for the book.
Were there any challenges you faced while writing your first children's book, and how did you overcome them? I would say my biggest challenge was overcoming imposter syndrome. This book started as a Covid-19 idea, turned time-passerby, turned passion project. I let months – years – pass without resurfacing the manuscript.
What themes or messages did you aim to convey to young readers through your book? Mostly I think bugs and insects are misunderstood. I admit, I have gasped at the sight of a spider. But I’m hoping that through some educational nuggets of information and through the lens of a curious young boy, readers will begin to understand the importance of these bugs and insects, and their contribution to our ecosystem.
How do you think your book contributes to the diverse landscape of children's literature today? I think generally STEM identity falls short in children’s literature. This book is just one addition to the STEM library of content.
What motivated you to write specifically for children, and do you have plans for more books in the future? I love reading books with my kids – they were and will always be my motivation. I do have plans to introduce more species of bugs to the Eli and the Bug Catcher series. I’m currently working on a manuscript about the harvestman species, aka Daddy longlegs.
For others who dream of writing a children's book, what advice would you give based on your own experience? It sounds cliché, but having a supportive network behind you really helps. There were times when I doubted myself and questioned whether I should pursue this venture or not. My illustrator, Lindley Wiesner, was my foundational rock. She helped to provide a sense of stability, partnership, and accountability.
What does it mean to you personally to have your first children's book published and available to readers? I feel a sense of pride – it is such a proud, personal accomplishment. I think that gives me more meaning though is watching kids get excited about reading books or in some instances, writing their own.
Eli and the Bug Catcher is available for purchase on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Eli-
