We caught up with NATALIE KATE FORBES to discuss her book Saturday, Sunday a lively rhyming picture book that contrasts the frenetic energy of a busy Saturday with the leisurely pace of a slow Sunday.
What sparked this idea for Saturday, Sunday?
Having kids myself, I found that we would always have a busy day, out and about, to get everything done all at once. Then we would try to have a relaxed Sunday at home just plodding around. I suppose it was just everyday life that sparked the idea.
What do your weekends look like?
Our weekends are often very different. Some weekends I’m out at my monthly writers group meeting on a Saturday, where Sundays are spent in the garden.
We love to have friends over for a BBQ which takes most of the day to setup, so Sunday is usually clean-up day.
Just recently we put on a Halloween BBQ party for all of my daughter’s prep class and I made a spooky walk through room, cut and painted giant ghosts and tombstones out of plywood and made lots of spooky treats, so that took lots of weekends to prepare.
Why did you choose to write this book in rhyme?
I love a good rhyming book. I love how it teaches phonemic awareness without trying, I love how you can get into a flowing rhythm so the whole book reads almost like a song. I find it difficult not to write in rhyme!
What was your favourite part of writing this story?
I guess I liked every part of it because I learnt something new with every stage. Seeing the final result and comparing it to the original is pretty special as I get to see how far I’ve come and how much I’ve grown as a writer.
Are there any scenes in this book that hold special significance?
The most special would have to be finding shapes in the clouds and having nanny and poppa visit. I have a very close relationship with my parents who are nanny and poppa to my kids, so I really wanted to get the significance of grandparents in the book somewhere.
Do you have any plans to write another story?
I have so many ideas for not only kids’ books but adult novels too. I am currently writing a graphic novel where a boy obsessed with magic accidentally and unknowingly sends his father to another dimension. Sneaking into Dad’s forbidden magic office, he discovers the long-lost scroll of Aetherium. With help from new friends, they have to decipher the ancient code to find the portal and open it so Dad can come home, before he is stuck on Marbolis forever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Natalie Kate Forbes lives in sunny Queensland with her family. She has lived and worked all around the world including as a snowmobile guide in Canada, but her favourite role was when she was a nanny. She has always loved children and the way they view the world. This is her debut published picture book.
Visit Natalie Kate Forbes’ website
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Danny Snell is an award-winning illustrator who lives in Adelaide. Over a 20 year career, he has illustrated over a dozen children’s picture books. Working in a variety of media and with a focus on simple compositions, he brings a gentle whimsy to his book characters and settings.
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