Here are the Questions and Answers from the Online Author Interview on Release Day! Any other questions? Ask them in the comments!
Question #1: What gave you the idea to write the book?
Answer:
The first spark of an idea came from my mom. She loves to wear socks with pictures on them...she calls them 'fun socks.' That's where the original idea came from. (Thanks, Mom!)
So, then I thought, wouldn't it be fun to write about a little girl who loves to wear socks, even in funny situations (like on the beach, and in the bathtub.)
Since I work with preschool children every day, I know how important it is to talk about emotions with young children, and that's when I came up with the idea to put feelings faces onto the socks.
Question #2: What age group is the book intended for?
Answer:
The book is intended for children ages 3-7 (preschool to approximately first grade.) I'm a preschool teacher, and I've tested it out on my class, as well as the other classes in the building! I guess you could say it's my job to 'research' children's picture books on a daily basis, LOL! (By the way, storytime is my FAVORITE time of the day!)
I recently visited an elementary school, and a group of 139 preschoolers and kindergartners were all very excited and responsive to Jocelyn's story.
Here is the back cover blurb: Jocelyn loves socks. She wears them everywhere . . . even in the bathtub! When a box of socks depicting different emotions arrives in the mail from her grandparents, she is ecstatic. After tearing open the package, she decides to wear a different pair of socks for when she’s happy, when she’s sad, and everything in between. Jocelyn soon discovers that her beloved new socks are not as exciting as they seem and are weighing her down. Can she learn how to manage her feelings and mix and match her socks to fit her every mood? Complete with a teacher's guide ideal for parents and educators.
Question #3: Why did you include 'emotions' on the socks?
Answer:
I'm a preschool teacher ... and I watch the news.
In the classroom, I guide my students through difficult social situations and frustrations of all kinds all day long. It's important to teach children acceptable ways to handle these and other strong emotions they feel.
Sadly, news broadcasts highlight an urgent need to promote emotional wellness to try to end the violence that seems to be happening more and more in schools and other public places.
The earlier we start talking about it, the better-equipped children will be to handle tough situations in school, at home, and in society as they grow into young adults.
Books can open the door for this very important discussion about feelings...
and what to do with them. Children aren't born with this knowledge. It is a skill that needs to be taught.
I thought it was also important to address how quickly feelings and moods can fluctuate, and that it's okay. Children need to know they're not alone. Everyone's feelings shift and change, even in the span of just a few seconds or minutes.
It is my hope that books like Jocelyn's Box of Socks can facilitate this need.
Question #4: What is your favorite part of the book?
Answer:
There are so many parts of the book that I love! I think the illustrator, Tino Santanach, did a fantastic job bringing my story to life through pictures! He followed my suggestions perfectly and added a few touches of his own.
My favorite page is the one with Jocelyn posing with her mismatched socks. I think the illustrations of her capture her personality so well, and I applaud Tino for making her fun and relatable.
Question #5: Where did you come up with the name 'Jocelyn'?
Answer:
I'm 'Mom' to two amazing sons. Jordan is my oldest, and Jeremy my youngest.
Jocelyn is the name my husband and I chose long ago for a girl (Notice the 'J' theme. Guess it runs in my family... I have two sisters, and our names all begin with 'K'.)
Since we never had a daughter, I used our 'girl-name' for the main character in my book. And that's how 'Jocelyn' got her name! I guess that makes her one of my kids now, too!
Any other questons? Ask in the comments, and I'll be happy to answer them! Keep on Reading!
Kristen
Jocelyn's Box of Socks, AVAILABLE NOW!
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