It’s tough to overcome… a hairy, beary sticky bum!
We chatted to author Jax King about her debut picture book Stinky Cyril. When Cyril the bear finds himself in a sticky, smelly… situation, he tries everything to get himself clean. Thankfully, his forest friends know just what to do. With plenty of heart and humour, Stinky Cyril is sure to make little readers laugh — whilst showing them that we can get out of the any situation with the help of others.
In this Q&A, Jax discusses her inspirations for the book, her love of nature, and her experiences as a dyslexic author.
Stinky Cyril by Jax King and Samantha LeDuc is available to order today from Amazon, Waterstones, and Bookshop.org.
We love Cyril. He’s just the wrong bear, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. What do you think children will like about Cyril, and do you think they’ll relate to his… unfortunate situation?
Haha! That really does sum Cyril up! He is one HUGE lovable character, with a big heart. Children will learn how confusing some situations are in life. We don’t always understand the predicaments we can land ourselves in when we’re young, and we are particularly good at not being able to get ourselves out of sticky situations!
We tried to skirt around it there, but Stinky Cyril is a story about a bear who has sat in poo. Of course, little ones are going to laugh at that. But what else do you think they’ll take away from it?
That it’s perfectly okay to get things wrong, it’s alright to make mistakes, and the very best way to learn is through humour! Children rarely forget what makes them laugh. I hope Cyril’s dilemma also helps children to understand the meaning of kindness and friendship. How pulling together can solve difficulties. We all need friends to help us through difficult times in life. Cyril didn’t understand that all he had to do was ask for help. It’s one of the most important lessons for children to learn.
How important do you think comedy is in getting children to read more at an early age?
Comedy is at the root of our learning cycle. If children find things funny, it creates a happy atmosphere and encourages their thirst for more. Happiness is paramount for children. I believe it’s THE healthiest environment to learn in. If you can make them laugh, they will want to read that story over and over again. We all hope that our stories encourage a hungry mind.
The story is very visual — and there are a lot of silly situations for young readers to imagine — but what was it like working alongside Samatha LeDuc on this book?
Sammie is terrific! She’s an extremely talented illustrator who totally got Cyril without us even having a conversation about him. She received the story, and she sent me her preliminary sketches. I couldn’t believe it, we had exactly the same visuals! I think that is quite rare. We were absolutely on the same page with how Cyril looked and acted. His expressions, his surroundings and the faces of utter despair for all the forest creatures. It was as if we were sharing the same mind. Cyril is very much a part of us now!
You’ve been very open about your dyslexia and embracing it as a strength. How has it influenced your approach to storytelling, and what advice would you give to aspiring writers with dyslexia?
Having dyslexia has two sides. First, the feeling of being lost and isolated in a classroom, as I was as a child. Secondly, it allowed me a huge capacity to daydream. I made stories up in my head all the time, as I struggled to learn, and I was an extremely slow reader. But I excelled at daydreaming, making up big stories, larger-than-life characters and different scenarios and adventures.
School was very difficult for me as my dyslexia wasn’t picked up, I was left behind by everyone else. That left a huge open void to fill with my imagination. It taught me the most important life lesson: ‘Anything is Possible.’ Once you have this, there’s no stopping you, no matter what hurdles are put in your way.
For all the young aspiring authors out there, never doubt your ability, never question your imagination and believe in your daydreams. It might take you longer to write and to read what you have written, but it allows you to explore your thoughts. That’s the most important aspect of writing. Never give up.
Your love for adventure and the outdoors is clear to see too. How much of that inspired this story and its setting?
I have always felt at home in open spaces. Big skies and no restraints to cloud my thoughts. I have travelled extensively throughout the world, discovering and experiencing many adventures. I have gained huge inspiration from every aspect of my travels. I guess, once again, the difficulties you face as a child often provide the yearning for freedom.
I’m at my happiest surrounded by nature. This certainly influenced my story. What better to have a goofy and slightly confused bear in a complete mess, in a beautiful mountain setting? Disaster versus perfection!
Have you ever met a bear on your adventures?
I have indeed! I was lucky enough to meet two grizzly bears in Canada and fell very much in love with them both! I was also lucky enough to see some black bears. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m passionate about bears.
Finally, how does it feel knowing that your story will soon be read by children and parents everywhere?
To know that Cyril is venturing out into the world is a dream come true. I’m so immensely proud of him. It’s so wonderful imagining Cyril’s adventures being read by parents to little ones. I hope that he is enjoyed and makes them laugh but also gives them strength to ask for help. Cyril is a brave bear, even though he gets things wrong! Children need to know they are brave too.
Stinky Cyril by Jax King and Samantha LeDuc is published on April 10th. The book is available to pre-order now from Amazon, Waterstones, and Bookshop.org.
