Book Tour: TIMID review + author interview

 

Book Details

Title: Timid
Author: Harry Woodgate
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Genre(s): Childrens, LGBT, Picture Book
Pages: 32
Format: Physical
Representation: Nonbinary

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Rating: 5/5

Favorite Quote/Scene: 
Meeting Nia

Review: 
Thank you so, so much for Hear Our Voices Tours for allowing me to take part in this book tour!! I love Harry Woodgate's books and I especially love a book with a nonbinary main character! Make sure to check out the tour schedule to see what other wonderful tours and hosts were a part of this tour!

This is a beautiful book! I'm starting to expect that from Harry Woodgate's books. They are colorful and gorgeous and very well-written.

This book has a nice story with a strong impact to me! Especially considering the main character is nonbinary which isn't something we typically get in picture books.

The character's journey throughout the book is actually pretty great! It's not a permanent answer to that fear and anxiety, but it's definitely a better approach then just trying to ignore it or sink into it!

I loved this book! It was exactly what I had hoped for!

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How did you get the idea for this book?

I came up with the idea for Timid in early 2020, a few weeks before the first lockdown here in the UK. I was sat in a local coffee shop with my sketchbook, and I drew a lion with a multicoloured mane. I liked the character, so as the world shut down over the next few months, I began to explore what their story might be.

The themes of shyness and anxiety I drew from my own childhood. They're feelings many kids struggle with, and whether it's taking part in a school performance, playing a sport, making new friends or speaking in front of your class, these experiences can feel really daunting, so I wanted to create a story which spoke to and encouraged those readers in a gentle and reassuring way.

Why use a lion to showcase the fear?

There are quite a few books that use big cats as metaphors for worry and fear, but the main reason I chose to include the lion alongside Timmy was because it allowed me to create a playful visual relationship between the two characters, mirroring and contrasting the different emotions Timmy feels throughout the story in the illustrations. I also liked the idea that perhaps this bold, colourful lion was not just representative of Timmy's shyness but also of their vibrant imagination and inner world: sometimes these things can be two sides of the same coin.

The second reason is that one of my favourite soft toys when I was small was a lion called George, so it felt like a fitting tribute!

As a nonbinary reader, I loved that the main character used they/them pronouns. Why did you choose to have it that way?

That means a lot to hear, thank you. I chose to include a non-binary character because there are still relatively few picture books that feature non-binary identities, though there will certainly be young readers who are either beginning to explore their own relationship to gender, or who may have non-binary or gender non-conforming people in their life.

Picture books are excellent tools for building empathy, as well as equipping children and caregivers with the language and space to safely navigate important topics together. Hopefully Timid achieves this whilst most importantly being an enjoyable story.

What do you like to do to overcome nervousness or shyness?

I think more than anything, I've learnt the importance of nurturing those friendships where you become bolder, brighter, more authentic versions of yourselves in each other's company - and the importance of understanding and respecting your own boundaries. Whilst it's good to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and face your fears, doing so with kindness and allowing yourself the space to process your emotions is far better than just trying to power through.

How did you come up with Timmy and Nia's names?

Timmy's name is a bit of a pun on the book's title, Timid. I'm not entirely sure where Nia's name came from: I think it just sounded friendly, which suits her personality.

Do you have a favorite illustration in this book?

I'm really happy with the playground bench scene where Timmy, Nia and the lion are surrounded by colourful macaws, as well as the final illustration where Timmy and Nia put on their costumes and take to the stage. Both are anticipatory moments - the beginnings of a new friendship, or the start of a performance - and I think I'm drawn to the latent emotion within those situations.

What's your favorite part of your job?

I love doing events, meeting readers and seeing the books I've made out in the world, but, perhaps necessarily, I think my favourite part of the job is the physical process of writing and illustrating: the routine of it; the passing of time; the many small decisions, reflections and conversations that go into creating each story.