Pippin and the Prickly Dilemma follows a kind-hearted little dog who is bullied by a larger dog, and he faces a difficult choice that reveals the true power of empathy, forgiveness, and doing what’s right. Why do you think it’s important for children to see examples of empathy in difficult situations?

Typically, children can be quite selfish and often see humour in other people’s discomfort. Showing a child that putting yourself in the other person’s shoes (being empathetic) usually results in a better outcome for all and builds feelings of connection.

Meatball begins as a bully but grows—how did you approach writing his transformation in a believable way?

Meatball needed to be shown that despite his aggressive and bullying behaviour, others would still come to his aid when he needed help. This gave him the motivation to rethink and adjust his own attitude and come to realize that it is better to cooperate and enjoy the company of others rather than trying to dominate.

The story introduces intimidation in a way that feels safe for young readers. How did you balance seriousness with reassurance?

Young children can be easily upset by scary, bullyish behaviour. I aimed to show that Pippin’s positive reactions, though not instantly changing Meatball’s actions, paved the way for him to later adjust his outlook towards his new companions.

What do you hope children understand about making good choices when they’ve been treated unfairly?

I hope that children will learn that it is important to employ strategies to defuse aggressive and bullying behaviour rather than to escalate them.

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