Q: What was your favorite book as a child?
A: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.
Q: What was the first book you read on your own?
A: A Hole Is To Dig by Maurice Sendack.
Q: What was the name of the first story you ever wrote?
A: “My Black Cat Mudpie!” at age seven.
Q: What advice do you have for parents with beginning readers?
A: Take it easy, encourage kids to read at their own pace, [ask] questions and share thoughts about the books children are reading, and share your OWN love of reading.
Q: How can parents encourage struggling young readers to keep reading?
A: Make it fun! Kids love humor, and graphic novels for kids are a fun and easy way to encourage reading. My dyslexic son was obsessed with the Calvin & Hobbes comic books and read them cover-to-cover.
Q: How do you incorporate reading with your kids in your everyday life?
A: Sharing a love of books with your children and reading out loud to them is a great way to encourage lifelong reading. Create fun daily rituals, reading storybooks at bedtime for young children, and quiet [independent] reading time for older children.
Q: What tips do you have for beginning readers?
A: Don’t give up and always ask for help when you need it!
Q: Why do you think it’s important for kids to enjoy reading early on?
A: Reading helps a young child develop confidence and imagination and opens up a world of wonders. Learning to read is a skill that lasts a lifetime, and early [readers] make reading fun for beginners.
Q: What three words would you use to describe your books?
A: Adventurous, joyful, inspiring.
Q: What do you hope young readers will get out of your books?
A: I hope Angelina [Ballerina] will inspire young readers to be brave and adventurous, to overcome their fears, and to follow their dreams.
© 2021 Helen Craig Ltd and Katharine Holabird. The Angelina Ballerina name and character and the dancing Angelina logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited, Katharine Holabird, and Helen Craig.
