Author Spotlight: Camilla Reid, BookTrust Writer in Residence

We’re so excited to feature such a prestigious name in this month’s Author Spotlight - the brilliant Camilla Reid. As the current BookTrust Writer in Residence, Camilla is passionate about getting more babies and toddlers reading. She’s the first ever author of baby and toddler books to take on this role - and we couldn’t think of anyone better. Her work has shaped countless first libraries, and her stories have brought joy to families across the UK. Here, Camilla shares her story - in her own words.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to write children’s books?

Becoming a mother for the first time was the thing that got me started writing children's books of my own. I suddenly found that I could see the world through a very young child's eyes, and had a new understanding of what interested and entertained them - and, also, what didn't! At the same time, I started to think about what the adult reader wanted from the reading experience, too - so I started to consider them in the whole process.

What was your very first book and what inspired it?

My first book was LULU'S SHOES, an interactive book for toddlers, which was inspired by my daughter, Leni (who I used to call Leni-Lou, hence Lulu). It was at the time that she was just starting to walk and became obsessed with shoes - and not just her own! She loved all the velcro and laces, and used to try on everyone's shoes! Lulu grew to become a multi-title series which has now sold over a million copies, so it was an encouraging start!

How would you describe your writing style or the kind of stories you love to tell?

My books are absolutely targeted at the child reader - I like to tap into their humour, interests and concerns, and to involve them in the story-telling, with lots of interactive elements. When they are very small, I think that this interactivity - flaps to lift, buttons to press, sliders to move, even just words to join in with - gives the child agency within the story, and this makes it much more engaging for them. It's almost as if the book needs them, that it asks for their help, and they feel very empowered by this. It makes them feel super important, especially if they can show off their skills to their favourite adult! Putting a mirror at the end of the book makes them the star of the show - and I think they love this, too.

Did you always want to be an author, or did your path take a few twists along the way?

I was a children's book editor for ten years and had been Editorial Director of Campbell Books before I went on maternity leave with my first child. But once I'd had my daughter, I wanted to work more flexibly and to spend time with her - which was also how I got my ideas, so it worked out all round!

What themes or values do you try to weave into your stories?

This is hard to answer because I write books for such a wide age-range - a 1 year old wants very different things from a 4 year old, I think. For my baby books, I simply try to provide fun and joy - and to involve the child in the book in a very physical way. As they get older, a child's involvement is more conceptual, more emotional, and they want to see themselves reflected in the story. In my PIP & POSY stories, I wanted to help readers learn how to be a good friend, to be kind, tolerant and forgiving, so the stories always have these themes running through them.

How do you choose or develop the characters in your books?

Characters are tricky to develop - I've done many over the years, and it doesn't get any easier! The aim is to create an individual that everyone can identify with, but at the same time who is unique and a little bit quirky. It usually takes a lot of trial and error, and there is always a bit of a process to it. For example, Pip and Posy were originally called 'Duck and Birdie' because 'duck' was my daughter's first word and 'birdie' was an easy word for her to say. However, Axel Scheffler (who was chosen as the illustrator) was better at drawing rodents so they became a rabbit and a mouse called Pip and Posy! For my most recent character, Dot, Carly Gledhill (the fantastic illustrator) did a bunch of options and we chose a funny, yellow spotty leopard(ish) character simply because she was so cute!

What do you hope children take away from reading your books?

I've now written around 200 books and they all do quite different things, but I would certainly say that my driving aim is for the child reader to have a great time from the moment they pick up one of my books - so they totally trust books to always deliver fun for them. I think it's my job as an early years author to make the child feel good about themselves, and (very importantly) good about reading. But it's also crucial to the child that their adult is having fun reading the book too - because their enjoyment is key to keeping the habit of reading going - so I try to pepper my books with details and touches that will hook them in too.

Do you have a favourite memory of being read to as a child?

I can't remember being read to much, I have to say, but I do remember enjoying the Lucy and Tom books by Shirley Hughes because it looked like the small, domestic world I lived in. I'm told that I started reading early and I do remember loving reading independently from a very young age, too!

What would you say to a parent who feels too busy or overwhelmed to read with their child?

I would say please try to do it if you possibly can - even just 5 minutes a day can have a HUGE effect! Shared reading is so important for your child's development when they're tiny and sets them up for a happier school experience, later down the line - because confidence around books means that they will find learning to read much, much easier. But, most important of all, you will BOTH feel so much better if you take just a few minutes every day to reconnect sharing a book. We all bond with the people we love through shared experiences, and sharing a story is a really powerful, rich way to do this. Trust me on this - it will become your favourite time of the day!

What do you think is the biggest gift we give children when we read aloud to them?

Sharing a story with a child is a very ancient, deep-rooted way of showing a child that they are secure and valued - that they are loved. We've been doing it for thousands of years and it's really important to being human.

What advice would you give to parents who feel their child “isn’t into books”?

Keep trying - you might just be reading the wrong books! Head to the library and try out some books which get your child involved - with felt flaps to lift, or sound buttons to press, or words to shout along with! It's worth remembering that a huge amount of your child's school experience will be focused on books and reading so if you give them confidence in reading now, you'll be investing in their future - and one day they'll thank you for it!

What three words would you use to describe your books?

Fun, fun, fun!

What’s the strangest or funniest thing a child has ever said to you about one of your books?

"More!" We read it again. And again.

Which children’s author or illustrator do you admire most?

Nooooo! I can't choose one!! I'm going to say Maurice Sendak, Richard Scarry and Shirley Hughes.

If you weren’t writing children’s books, what would you be doing?

I'd be a cowgirl!

A Message from Camilla Reid

You may have heard that in the UK there is what experts are calling, 'a reading crisis'. This means that fewer children than ever aged 8-18 are reading for the fun of it (rather than because they have to do it for homework) and it's really bad news - because reading for fun builds the brain like a gym builds muscles, and because it massively helps a child's educational outcome. Reading great stories also helps us understand who we are, and to work out how to live our own story, too! Roughly a third of children in this country ARE reading for pleasure which is hugely advantaging for them - they will have more opportunities and are likely to be healthier, happier and earn more because of it. But this isn't fair! I want EVERY child to have this advantage - so that from the moment they walk into school aged 4, they can thrive and grow, and have their best possible life outcome. That's why I'm doing all I can to raise awareness for shared reading in the early years, because all the research shows that this is what turns children into lifelong readers. I'm talking to teachers, nursery practitioners and, of course, families to help spread the message. So if you support this campaign, please encourage your school or nursery to start talking more about sharing books at home so that everyone gets reading in the early years, and all children benefit together! And follow me on Instagram! Thank you so much!

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