I’ll Be This, You’ll Be That! centers around a little boy whose mother helps him understand and cope with his big feelings when he becomes angry with his grandmother. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The story was inspired by the everyday moments I share with my child. The honesty, stubbornness, affection, and playful teasing between a mother and her little one naturally shaped the heart of this book. I wanted to mirror those tender dynamics through elements of nature that share the same nurturing, protective bond. In the rush of daily life, we often overlook how powerful and grounding these small connections can be. This story brings those quiet, caregiving moments into focus and celebrates the universal, unspoken love between a mother and her child.  

What do you hope children learn from seeing the boy move through his anger rather than simply being told to stop feeling it?

Children are often called innocent because they don’t naturally hide or shut down their feelings, even the big, messy ones like anger or jealousy. Moving through emotions is an essential skill, and it begins early. When children feel heard, understood, and loved, their anger softens quickly; it doesn’t need to be forced away or suppressed.

I hope young readers see that being expressive is healthy, and that emotions aren’t something to fear or silence. Kids need space to feel, and caregivers play a powerful role in gently guiding those feelings in the right direction. When we allow children to express themselves and support them through the process, we nurture stronger relationships and help them grow into emotionally aware, resilient thinkers.

Did each transformation carry a specific emotional meaning for you?

Yes. Each transformation carries a very personal emotional meaning for me, it’s my perspective of motherhood. As a mother, I see each form as a reflection of what I hope to be for my child. The soil and grass represent my wish to keep him grounded. The flower and hummingbird speak to sharing, gentleness, and reciprocity. The mountain stands for the steady strength I want to offer when his emotions feel like strong winds. The rock and beetle symbolize home, the comfort of knowing we belong to each other. And the bird mother embodies nurturing, guidance, and unconditional care.

Together, these transformations express the many ways a mother loves: by teaching, supporting, grounding, and always being there, no matter the shape that love takes.

What do you hope a child feels when they reach the final hug between mother and son?

I hope children feel that warm exhale, that moment when connection returns and everything feels safe again. The final hug is meant to reassure them that no matter how big their feelings become, love doesn’t disappear. Anger, jealousy, irritation, and frustration are temporary; love is the constant. I want children to feel deeply, unquestionably loved, and to understand that a difficult moment doesn’t change that. That last hug is the gentle reminder that big feelings pass, but the bond between a mother and child remains steady and forever.

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