What Bear Said centers around a wise bear and a curious young boy as they explore life lessons ranging from friendship to coping with grief. Where did the idea for this book come from?

I suppose I have been inspired and influenced by many children’s stories where a child and an animal are friends and have conversations that teach life lessons. Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin, for example. A recent book that definitely nudged me into beginning my book was Charlie Mackesy’s book, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. I loved the simple art in that book and the ageless wisdom it conveys. I was also motivated to write because I am old now, and before it was too late, I wanted to distill the best and wisest lessons I had learned in my life and put them in a form that would be easily accessed by all ages, especially children. I also was inspired by actual bears who visited me at my home in Oregon. One adult black bear appearing on my roof one early morning got my full attention.

What is it that draws you to children’s literature?

Children’s literature appeals to me because of the blending of illustrations and writing. I love studying the art styles of the many wonderful illustrators. I also like entering into the world of children. When a book is well-written and shows true understanding of the child’s experience and view of the world, it gets me in touch with my own inner child and memories of my childhood. Truly good, classic children’s books often teach important lessons without being preachy or too academic. They are often fun and lighthearted…like a child.

The artwork in your book is fantastic. Can you give us some insight into your process?

I wanted to keep the illustrations simple enough to keep the focus on the relationship and emotional interaction between the boy and Bear. I wanted the setting and scenery to look like a real, wild woods. I wanted Bear and the other animal characters to look like real animals, not like cartoon characters. I wanted the boy to look like a real, human boy, but be simply drawn so readers could identify with him in some basic way. It was a bit tricky to make it all look real and yet not a specific location in a specific time and place. I wanted the overall look of the book to be mostly art that flowed and also let each illustration stand on its own.

What do you hope young readers and their families take away from What Bear Said?

I hope children who read my book, whether alone or reading with an adult, will feel it is really okay to ask any question they might have about tough things like death, prejudice, forgiveness, and so on. The boy asks questions that are real questions that I had as a child and still have as an older adult. I hope they get some help from Bear’s answers and will continue to explore the subjects of each chapter. I want each child to know they are not strange or weak if they have self-doubts, or have emotional ups and downs, or confusion about feelings and life in general. My vision is of parents or grandparents and children reading a chapter together and having an honest, meaningful conversation in response. I want any adult reading this book to be reminded of their childlikeness and of what is truly important to them…to be slowed down and calmed for a time long enough to remember why they are here and who they are.

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