Sofia will love “Odd Dog Out,” I thought as soon as I saw the cover. With bright primary colors and a saucy little dachshund decked out in a sweater and winter hat, the book will captivate her from the get go.
Odd Dog Out
Sofia is just two years old, but already a dog person, so she will enjoy the charming drawings of these adorable hotdog-like creatures trotting down the city streets. She will notice how all the dogs look the same until she gets to the page where there is an odd duck, or dog, amidst the throng of sameness. “Where is the odd dog out?” we will prompt, and she will point to the picture.
She may be too young to grasp the concept of being unique, but the gentle message introduced in “Odd Dog Out” is one that can’t be introduced too early, in my opinion.
As she gets older and interacts with her friends at school, it will become even more important to understand what it means to accept and value diversity of opinion, and to feel comfortable in her choices even if she is in the minority.
I interviewed author Rob Biddulph to find out what inspired him to write “Odd Dog Out.”
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The notions of inclusiveness and respect for “otherness” send a message that seems to be more important than ever. Why was it meaningful to you? Have there been instances in your own life that inspired you?
Having respect for other people’s choices is hugely important. Everybody should feel comfortable enough to be the person that they want to be, without judgment or repercussion. The idea for the book actually came when my youngest daughter came home from school upset one day. I asked her what was wrong and she said that her friends all had exactly the same lunchboxes but hers was different. I spent a while telling her how she didn’t need to follow the crowd to fit in with everybody else and that it was much better to do your own thing and be yourself. It struck me right there and then that this would be a great message to get across to the masses in a picture book.
Did you start with the concept or the characters? What led you to make dogs the central characters? Is it easier for children to relate to animals?
Way back when I was at art college, a friend of mine had a pet dachshund and we were all obsessed with him. His name was Macintosh and he was so super-cute that we used to draw cartoons of him all the time. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to set a picture book in a world entirely populated by sausage dogs, so when I had the idea for the story, I decided that this was the book that I’d do it in. One of the first illustrations I drew was the spread featuring the dogs all wearing different outfits, and from that moment on I knew it had a good chance of working. Yes, I do think that sometimes it’s easier for children relate to animal characters. Maybe it’s something to do with the fact that when they are reading about human characters, they can get a bit too caught up with what (or who) those characters look like – their firends/family etc. Animals are more of a blank canvas that the children can project their own emotions onto without that complication getting in the way.
Do you have a dog at home? If so, how has your dog inspired you? Are there other dogs in literature or pop culture that speak (bark?) to you?
We do have a dog, yes. A cocker spaniel called Ringo. He is only ten months old so he’s still a puppy, but already I’m planning a book or two for him to star in. As for dogs in literature, I loved reading anything and everything by Richard Scarry when I was younger, and I particularly loved trying to spot Dingo Dog, my favourite of his characters, as he zoomed through the pages of What Do People Do All Day? or Storybook Dictionary. He would always wear his white cowboy hat and drive his smart red sports car with sharks teeth painted on the front. I thought he was the coolest!
Why have you chosen to write children’s books?
I had a fabulous job working as a newspaper and magazine art director in London, but when I had children and started reading bedtime stories to them, I realised that making a picture book was something that I’d really like to try to do. And as soon as I started I knew it was the thing for me. Initially I did both jobs alongside one another, but then the books side of things really took off and so I decided to make the leap and become a full-time author. Since then I haven’t looked back. I’ve toured the world with my books and met lots of different kids from all types of backgrounds. Wherever I go, however, they are all pretty much the same – enthusiastic, totally lacking in cynicism and truly inspirational. I think I have the best job in the world and I consider myself very lucky indeed.
What gives you more satisfaction — drawing or writing?
I find the drawing side of things much easier than the writing side of things, so I’d say I’m most satisfied when I finally get the story working and the rhyme flowing. It can often take between six months and a year for that to happen.
What trends do you see in books for the youngest audiences? What are your goals?
I think we are in a golden age for picture books. There are just so many good ones out there. And there is certainly a trend for books with fantastic, positive messages behind the stories which can only be a good thing for society. My goals are to reach as many kids as possible with my books and promote the benefits of reading. I am the official World Book Day illustrator for 2019 and 2020 and our main goal is to encourage reading for pleasure. The ‘pleasure’ bit is absolutely crucial. Once a child has that ability, it is a fact that they will find learning easier and as a result achieve a lot more with their lives. It’s so important, and I will work hard to do anything I can to encourage it.
What is next for you? Can we look forward to another book?
You certainly can. Lots of them, in fact. I have had nine author/illustrated books published so far in the UK (Odd Dog Out was my third) so you guys have got a bit of catching up to do! Plus (and this is a secret) I have written a series of books for slightly older children, the first one of which will be coming out in 2021. We are hugely excited about them, so watch this space…
One of my lucky readers will receive a copy of “Odd Dog Out.” Please leave a comment on the Books is Wonderful Facebook page, and a winner will be randomly selected. US addresses only, please.
I received a copy of “Odd Dog Out” from Harper for an honest review, which is the only kind of review I write.
