Ice Cap follows an unusual snowman with a cell phone and electric guitar who helps entertain kids and unite communities in the winter. What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

I have been in awe of technology advancement in my lifetime. As a teacher and parent, I have noticed how adults and now children are often glued to their phones and tablets, missing out on the adventure we call life! Real magic happens when parents, teachers, and caregivers make real-life connections with children through play, music, and by showing kindness. There is no substitute for spending quality time with each other. Ice Cap has a phone and he’s from THIS century but he hasn’t forgotten the intrinsic value of friendship, whether it is with his forest friends or the children he meets. I wanted to incorporate the ideas of manners, of including parents in the fun, and of giving gifts of the heart, drawn from the magic of our natural world.

The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Claire Sedovic?

Claire is a wonderful artist and our collaboration was quite seamless. I immediately chose her from my publisher’s repertoire. Although the comic strip and AI illustration styles are popular now, I wanted the story to seem modern with the underlying charm of a timeless tradition. I sent her a lot of background setting material and ideas for characters (objects, animals, multicultural children, objects, my sketch of Ice Cap, etc.) and she stayed true to my vision for the book. She did some research of her own, I could tell right away when she captured my corn husk dolls that adorn the tree. (A craft taught to my mom by a First Nations neighbour 80 years ago!) Claire was open to make changes or additions and her own interpretations of each scene really brought the story to life. Thanks, Claire!!!

Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?

This is the first book! I’m quite busy sharing my story with schools, libraries, and my community. I have already written a companion story with a similar female character but I am going to wait a while before starting the process again. Time will tell!!! I actually have so many stories written, all drawn from my experiences, from my community, and from the flora and fauna of our beautiful world. For now readers, parents, and teachers can connect with me or read my blog on my website joanepp.com. I look forward to reading the stories that children send me at justjoanandkids@gmail.com because after all reading inspires writing!

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