Ava as a Top Seller, follows a young girl who dreams of becoming a market vendor and gets a chance to help a local shopkeeper one weekend. What was the inspiration for your story?

Almost all of us have childhood memories of how much fun it was to create our own play store. I’ve set up many of these shops with my siblings, friends, and later with my children. I’ve been both a salesperson and a customer, and it has always been just as enjoyable.

That kind of play is full of imagination and, at the same time, practicing essential skills. The best experiences from my own childhood were shops where the diverse selection consisted of various natural products.

Some of the sold items were edible, such as berries or vegetables in the summer. But others were stones, sticks, plant leaves, hay – anything our imagination turned into interesting goods or treats. My little sisters started a flower shop, selling wildflower bouquets to passersby. The related funding, however, sparked discussions with parents…

Now, it’s fun to watch my visiting grandchildren rush to the same toy vegetable store where my adult children once played with the sales counters, cash registers, baskets, and toy fruits and vegetables.

Ava has a special bond with Mr. Stuff, and he helps guide her while allowing her to problem-solve and learn. Did you have your own “Mr. Stuff” growing up?

As a child, I was surrounded by adults who gave me a lot of freedom but enough security. I remember the feeling of encouragement and confidence. Because of this, I dared to tackle new things independently and wasn’t unnecessarily afraid of possible mistakes.

There are many happy memories to cherish. I was able to take out a cookbook and bake the first cinnamon rolls of my life as a surprise for my absent mother. The teacher gave me the task of choosing a play and actors and directing the performance for the Christmas party. It went well!

Throughout my life, I can name many adults who have played a role similar to the friendly “Mr. Stuff” in my Ava as a Top Seller story. I am genuinely grateful to each one of them. They were relatives, teachers, coaches, and tutors for different hobbies.

With their help, I transformed from a curious and enterprising child into an adult who reasonably trusted her skills. This belief in possibilities and survival has helped me sometimes make significant life changes and pursue things that initially seemed very challenging.

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

All of my Axel and Ava series books tell stories for children, parents, and other adults in children’s lives. I hope young readers—and listeners—gain self-confidence from these tales. In these stories, they learn that new abilities must be tested and that damage can occur but can be repaired.

An equally important goal in my books is to make adults aware of the role they play in guiding a child to new experiences and skills. It is a question of finding the appropriate balance of freedom and safety. I hope those adults closest to each child would spend time and effort supporting the child from a suitable distance. It is crucial to find that appropriate distance. This is challenging because every child is an individual, and every family is different.

In my stories, I aim to highlight positive ways for adults to engage with and motivate children to face potential mistakes and harmful situations. I’m sure parents sincerely try to do good in raising their children. Sometimes, they even try too hard and forget that a child’s growth also needs free space. Opportunities to try, fail, and try again.

Perhaps the worst thing an adult can do is continually doubt or belittle a child’s abilities while assuming the role of the adult who knows better. It’s also incredibly frustrating for the child when their past mistakes are frequently mentioned.

With a right mindset, even failure does not leave unpleasant traces but acts as encouragement for needs. There will always be the next day and the next opportunity!

What do you have planned next for Axel and Ava, and when will it be available?

The Axel and Ava Series has four books published so far: Axel and Ava as Cat Sitters, Ava and the Last Bird, Axel Washes the Rug, and Ava as a Top Seller. The books explore various situations in which children’s enthusiasm leads to surprising outcomes.

The lives of active children are full of such situations, so there is no shortage of topics for future parts of the series.

I already have a few funny coincidences in my head for the new parts of the series. It is still too early to reveal the names of these books, but I can tell you that my memories are involved again.

For example, I’m considering a book in which the events revolve around a children’s performance that doesn’t go as planned. Another idea involves a situation full of good intentions to make a loved one happy but not succeeding in that.

I can’t give an exact schedule for the new books in the series, as I currently have many book projects in various stages. During the year, I will also participate in at least three international book fairs in different ways: in the spring, the London Bookfair, and in the fall, the Bologna Children’s Bookfair and the Frankfurt Bookfair.

But I can promise that Axel and Ava will always travel with me, no matter where I go in the world, to talk about children’s books.

Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website