From the flap copy:
An old blue van may not look like much, but it holds everything one girl’s family needs. There’s an outdoor kitchen, a hammock-closet above the family bed, and a cozy library full of favorite books.
But sometimes living in Old Blue makes her feel like she’s from everywhere–and belongs nowhere. When those feelings take over, Mama reminds her of the love inside Old Blue’s walls.
Inspired by her childhood experience with housing insecurity, acclaimed creator Lita Judge tells the gentle story of a family who hopes for a forever home–but until that day comes, Old Blue will look after them.
Andrea: Welcome to Picture Book Builders, Lita! I’m so excited to chat with you. Congratulations on your newest book, OLD BLUE IS MY HOME! In your Author’s Note, you talk about your own childhood experience with housing insecurity. Is this your most personal/autobiographical book so far? What motivated you to turn your experience into a picture book?
Lita: Yes, definitely! I think I much prefer creating whimsical stories, or writing about topics I love than drawing from a life experiences that holds some difficult memories. But I just couldn’t look past our current times and how so many children are facing home insecurity. I think these kids are underrepresented in books, especially picture books and I wanted them to know that they aren’t alone. I wanted them to see they aren’t defined by these circumstances, to see how brave and strong they are, and that they deserve connection and dreams and a belief in themselves, like everyone. I wanted them to be able to read a story written by someone who faced something similar as them, though there is such a wide range of circumstances children live under — at least to read a story by someone who gets what it feels to be very isolated by these conditions.
Andrea: We really do need more books that make underrepresented kids feel seen and understood, and OLD BLUE IS MY HOME is such a wonderful and important addition to the list of “mirror, window, and sliding glass door” books.
I loved watching your videos about your creative process that are on your website. What was your creative process for OLD BLUE IS MY HOME? Did you return to some of the places you lived as a child in Old Blue for research?
Lita: In a way my creative process really didn’t vary from how I normally work. Drawings always come first for me. I see a story long before I find the right words. I begin by sketching and build the story arc all through pictures first and then eventually I begin writing. But this time, I really didn’t need to travel back to those places – I think when you experience something like this, in a way, your memories are sharper. At least they are for me, much sharper than when I reflect on a time that was much more normal. And we had that van for so many years, even after we lived in a house again, its details were burned into my brain. As well as so many of the objects in the book – the water cooler, the shower, the hammock, even the sweater I wore (knitted by my grandmother). I remembered all of these things. Perhaps when you have fewer belongings you really see what you have. Or perhaps because I drew pictures of the things that were around me from an early age I had all of those strong visual memories.
Andrea: The book shows the advantages of living a nomadic life–sleeping under the stars, being close to nature, having family around you–but it also portrays the disadvantages, most poignantly with the line, “But sometimes living in Old Blue makes me feel like I’m from everywhere and belong nowhere.” Yet overall, the story is gentle and reassuring. How did you achieve that balance?
Lita: I want all readers to embrace this story, but I was really writing it for any child facing home insecurity. They KNOW that reality and all the stress and fear that comes with it. I wanted to give enough detail that the story resonates with them, and for them to feel that they aren’t alone, but I also wanted them to see the joy and love that exists in their lives as well. Facing home insecurity is extremely stressful, especially for children. I felt like it was my job to provide a safe place for them to see themselves reflected, but also to see comfort and reassurance that it will be ok. I write for very young children, so this isn’t a memoir with a lot of details. I feel more like this is kind of a private love letter to those little readers who need this story. But hopefully, it is also a story that can be shared with other readers so that they can gain understanding and empathy to the peers they might know facing these circumstances.
Andrea: This book will definitely resonate with readers on so many levels. Even kids who haven’t experienced housing insecurity will understand the feeling of not belonging. The illustrations are so evocative and take the reader on a journey through many different emotions, from serenity and joy to the pain of disconnection and exclusion, and ultimately, to love and hope. What was the most challenging aspect of painting the illustrations? What was the most satisfying?
Lita: The most challenging aspect was portraying myself in these situations. Some of these are memories I really don’t like to dwell on. Drawing means reliving and that is challenging. I honestly wanted to give up many times, especially the spreads where she is feeling different and isolated from other children.
But I know, especially from all the school visits I’ve done, that there are so many kids who need to feel they aren’t alone! That made me stick with it.
And I’d get to do a spread where our family was happy, together, experiencing life like any other family. It gave me satisfaction to know that there are children who might read this book and see themselves reflected in the story, and perhaps they will feel not only valued, but also be able to see the joy and love they do have.
Andrea: I love that so much. We are all of value. Is there anything that I didn’t ask you that you’d like to talk about? If not, what are you working on now?
Lita: I’m working on a book about a little girl that lives in medieval times and is inspired to find a unicorn when she see the Unicorn tapestry. It’s titled, Beatrix and the Unicorn. And it is so fun because I get to disappear into a different time and place with a medieval castle, a brilliant tapestry, a dark and mysterious forest. I think growing up the way I did fostered a huge imagination. We didn’t have much in the way of toys, no tv, no games and it was hard even to find kids to play with. So I used my imagination to build a community of imaginary friends. Eventually those imaginary friends started showing up as characters in my books. I think my childhood experiences naturally led me to want to write and create art so that these artifacts of my imagination would reach out to others and begin to form a real community. I’ve really found that with my readers, parents, teachers, and fellow writers. I feel blessed for that and I’m looking forward to sharing Beatrix and the Unicorn with anyone who secretly wishes they could live in a medieval castle and search out a unicorn.
Andrea: Oh, that sounds fabulous. Both your upcoming book and the real community you’ve formed from sharing your imagination. I’ve always wanted to live in a castle and find a unicorn, too. I can’t wait to read Beatrix and the Unicorn! Thank you again for “visiting” Picture Book Builders and telling us about your beautiful new book!
Giveaway! Lita and her publisher are giving away one copy of OLD BLUE IS MY HOME. Please comment below within the next couple of weeks to enter!
Lita Judge is the award-winning author-illustrator of many children’s books, including Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends, The Wisdom of Trees, Born in the Wild, Flight School, Red Sled, and her illustrated young adult novel, Mary’s Monster, as well as the illustrator of Forty Winks: A Bedtime Adventure, written by Kelly DiPucchio. She lives with her husband, three cats, and a parrot in New Hampshire. Find her online at https://litajudge.me and on IG at @litajudge.
