Just Like You, Papa follows a young boy who dreams of moving just like his father until he learns that even the strongest need time to rest. Did you draw from personal experiences when creating the father-child relationship?

Yes, this is the story of my son and his father. While we are an active family, and my son thrives in sports and looks up to his father, what he needs to learn is to take it easy sometimes. Ambition is a double-edged sword. I want to teach him balance in life.

How did you decide on the rhythmic, capitalized style for the book?

I love reading books to my kids, and I found I especially love those with rhythmic, simple text, and which use repetition. Kids love repetition. I explicitly aimed to achieve this effect myself. This book relies on the illustrations and bold text so that the energy jumps off the page.

What message do you hope both children and parents take away from the story?

To enjoy life to the fullest, dream big, but also to achieve a balanced outlook and enjoy the process. For example, if my son doesn’t manage a climbing route he wants to be able to do, his frustration and anger overwhelm him at times, and he needs reminding that he climbs because it is fun. He can sometimes then simply enjoy the process of learning, and take a break. He needs to learn to let go sometimes.

Was there a particular moment in the story that was especially meaningful to you?

There is no particular moment, but I like how the voice changes in the middle of the book from the perspective of the child to the perspective and wisdom of the father.

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