When Fred the Snake and Friends Explore USA, Central follows an adventurous snake and his crew as they travel across the central United States. What was the inspiration for your story?

Fred and friends enjoyed visiting sights in the Eastern States and asked Jim to take them further.

​The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Bonnie Lemaire?

Great illustrator living near Toronto, Canada. We connected via the publisher and worked together online until we started on the 4th book, about Charleston, SC, where Fred and I live. She came down to see what she would be drawing. Terrific talent. She not only draws my ideas, but enhances them, adding lots of special wrinkles. Purple hair then…

What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?

Introducing young kids to famous places and memorials.

Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Fred and his friends and the direction of the next book?

Jim says they will be off to the West Coast. Maybe Hollywood? Alaska?

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