Mortimer and Lily: Moose in Training follows an imaginative third grader who decides a giant moose would make the perfect community service volunteer. What inspired you to create your story, and how did the idea of a moose participating in a community service project develop?

Moose in Training is actually the first book of a spin-off chapter book series. My first series, Mortimer and Me, consists of eight books that feature an 8-year-old boy named Jimmy who makes friends with a moose named Mortimer. The subsequent books are the different adventures they go on. I first got the idea while I was still teaching. My sixth-grade students had the opportunity to write and illustrate their own stories, which would then be printed and bound professionally. I decided that if I was going to teach them the writing process, I should have a story of my own to use as a model. My dad used to tell me bedtime stories about a donkey named Mortimer who always got into trouble. I always loved the name Mortimer, but I didn’t want to write about a donkey! A trip to Alaska convinced me that Mortimer should be a moose. We don’t have moose in Arizona, but I do have family connections in Wisconsin, so I decided to set it there. They don’t have many moose in WI either, but there have been sightings in northern WI, so I invented the ficticious town of Peabody. The story evolved into a chapter book, which turned into an 8-book series. When my illustrator decided he was done after eight books, I decided to birth the Mortimer and Lily series with a new illustrator that features Jimmy’s younger sister, Lily. Lily’s adventures will have a whole new look. The idea for the community project came from Mortimer’s desire to help people. Most of what he tries to do ends up as a disaster in the first series, and this next series will be no exception. The idea for the Tidy Town project came from a trip to Ireland, where Tidy Towns are a real thing, where towns compete against each other to gain the designation of a Tidy Town. I decided to make Lily’s teacher, Mrs. Murphy, from Ireland. She introduces a class project whose mission is to benefit the community in some way. Of course, Lily wants to include Mortimer, because he received an award from the Governor for being a “Rising Star” in the community. The book focuses on different possibilities that turn disastrous until Lily and her friends finally find a solution.

What makes Mortimer such an effective companion for Lily, especially when their personalities and abilities create unexpected complications?

Mortimer proves himself to be an extraordinary moose, not your typical wild animal. The whole town is familiar with his wandering into town on occasion, playing with the kids on the school playground, and trying to help out wherever he can. They even erected a statue of him in the town square. So, it’s not unusual for the kids to want to include him in a project. He’s loyal and always tries his best. Lily is stubborn and tenacious in getting what she wants, but not at the expense of hurting others’ feelings. She and Mortimer are alike in that way. She’s able to pivot when plans don’t go her way.

How might teachers and parents use the Shamrock Squad’s adventures to inspire children to develop their own community service ideas?

Having taught elementary school for 32 years, I know not to underestimate what kids are capable of. Their ability to think outside the box can create all sorts of exciting projects. They just need guidance and support.

Without revealing too much, what kinds of adventures or personal growth would you like to explore with Lily and Mortimer as the series continues? 

I’m currently working on the second book in the series, Chocolate Moose. It involves a televised cooking contest where the Shamrock Squad faces off against the antagonist, Harper, and her mean girl friends that were introduced in the first book. Imagine Mortimer in the kitchen of a television set! As you can imagine, chaos ensues, creating all kinds of hilarity. But it also gives meaning to the phrase “Winning isn’t everything” as Lily and her friends navigate through all the challenges that arise. The main themes that carry through both series are friendship, teamwork, family, inclusivity, and kindness.

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