Giant Legs follows Elliot who becomes overwhelmed by the crowd at his grandpa’s garden party until Uncle Stephen takes him on a unique adventure to conquer his fear and rejoin the celebration. What inspired you to write a story about a child’s fear of crowds and how did you come up with the idea of using stilts to overcome this fear?

I often accidentally find myself in situations where some little child I don’t even know has a problem and needs my help. Let me give you a few examples. I have often supported lost children in shopping centers and sightseeing areas. I have cared for some little ones left alone in the family car or those who have run off to rush unsupervised between the vehicles in the parking lots.

I’ve also witnessed the distress of some children amid crowds of strange people, which inspired me to write this story. Sadly, even a party can turn into a nightmare for sensitive and shy children. Maybe their parents dress them in too fancy clothes that must be kept from getting dirty all the time, or if they are expected to behave like grown-ups and make acquaintances with strangers, the party can become a nightmare for a child.

A little humorously said, this story, Giant Legs, defends children’s rights in the setting of a family party. In my childhood, I was an active and social child who enjoyed large groups, but there were also those close to me who needed hand-holding and support.

The stilts came into the story because they offered a fun element with which the child could be tangibly raised above the others. Elliot learns, succeeds, and shines. With the help of wooden legs, I also built a bridge between the adults and children of this story. It is liberating—for both parties—to realize these unifying, fun things and share experiences and memories.

Did you draw from personal experiences when creating Elliot’s character, or was he purely fictional?​

Elliot was born in my imagination, or rather, he is a collection of observations I made as a child and later as an adult about similar party-related situations.

I had a large family circle in the old days, including about tens of cousins. We often celebrated birthdays, christenings, weddings, and funerals together. Then, family members, relatives, and friends of all ages gathered. I participated in those events with enthusiasm and courage, but some children were shy and avoided the company of others.

These childhood memories help me see things through the eyes of little people. Besides, I have another asset, which I sometimes call a Mommy Radar. I use it to map the possible dangers in the immediate area and try to prevent damage in advance. I try to do this discreetly so that the children don’t feel like they are being watched or restricted all the time.

My “childish” mind and vivid memories help me understand what interests, inspires, or worries children in different situations. This story is an example of a situation where the understanding and support of adults are necessary. I try to offer my support subtly by writing books suitable for children and their families.

The theme of facing fears is prevalent in your book, why is it important for children’s literature to tackle this topic?​

It’s important to remember that the world looks completely different through the eyes of a child. On the other hand, there is a lot of joy and light in it, which adults sometimes forget under their rushes and pressures.

Children’s lives are constantly changing, too! They face new situations, changing environments, various demands, and skills they must learn. These can be exciting challenges, but they can also involve scary situations. There are thousands of questions circulating! The children wonder if they can or are allowed to do things or are good enough and accepted. Are they safe? What if something happens? Who will take care of them? Will others like them, and will they make friends?

Adults have a lot to do to support their children. We must know how to do this delicately, not underestimate children’s skills but also let them learn from their mistakes. However, sometimes the help of an adult is necessary, depending on the situation. In understanding our role, we adults can make use of our own childhood experiences – or maybe The Little Fears Series, too! My series currently has eight volumes, and more are on their way. Last time I was on vacation, I came up with a suitable way to deal with one fear people often ask me to write about. But let it remain a secret.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I’m almost out of breath when I think about the answer to this question. It’s because I have so many book projects in various stages.

Within the framework of a small family business, I’m connected to all phases of my stories in different ways—the translation and editing phase, collaboration with illustrators, and contacts with international publishers. Many things are happening at each stage right now—I’ll name a few examples next.

I have already received a few book illustrations from Brazil for the new Activ Kids Series. It has happy functionality and children’s usual activities with little surprises and some excitement. The first three books will be A Museum Robbery, The Ghost of the Deserted House, and Luke’s Sailing Adventure.

I’m also looking forward to proceeding with the layout of two unique stories – The Old Rose Villa and The Dream House – both set in India. The books are hand-illustrated by an Indian artist, and the exquisite pictures are ready! These books are precious to me because the subjects are based on real life, and my friend, who is of Indian origin, has inspired me to write children’s books about them. The stories contain sensitivity and respect for people’s dreams and their fulfillment.

There would be much more to mention, but let it suffice for now that my writing enthusiasm is the same after more than sixty publications in English, and more texts are constantly being created! I hope to present a cavalcade of interesting new picture books at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, where I will again have the pleasure of meeting publishing partners who publish my stories in their own countries! And the number of readers is increasing!

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