Starting Small: Interviewing Sue Trew, children's author and illustrator
BY FARRAH LEONE
Sue Trew is an author and illustrator who grew up on the island of Barbados. Inspired by the wildlife she grew up around, she launched her series of children’s books and plushies called Turtle Tracks Family. You can find Trew’s books in zoos, aquariums, and non-profits across where revenue goes back to support their programs. She actively works with partner organizations to write books on specific topics, such as her latest “Gecko Getwaway” sponsored by the Fauna & Flora International. Her platform is now international with her work spreading across Barbados, the Caribbean, the USA, and in 2021 Turtle Tracks Family will be in the UK!
Tell us about the time you first decided to write about nature?
It all began when I took a young family to see a ‘hatchling release’ one evening at sunset organized by the Barbados Sea Turtle Project. It is a magical experience to watch baby turtles make their way to the sea and the children were delighted and very curious. Afterwards I thought it would be great if they could go home and read a story at bedtime about what they had just seen. By the time I got home I had decided to try and write one!
Why did you choose to write children’s books?
I chose to write children’s books because I think reading is a perfect way for children to learn about the environment and to develop a love for it. When writing my first book ‘Turtle Tracks’, about a nesting hawksbill turtle called Tilli, I included as many facts as I could and put the extra facts in the back for older siblings. I love to paint so I was happily inspired to create the illustrations for each book myself.
What do you want children and their families to get out of your brand?
My hope is that children and their families will spend time together enjoying hours of fun reading and playing with the collectible plush toys of the main characters in each book. The Turtle Tracks Family is designed to cultivate curiosity, a love of learning and a desire in young children to care for the environment. Each book sensitively introduces some environment issues that may affect the featured animals and their habitats.
What is your process when it comes to writing?
When it comes to writing a new book, I first decide on an animal and ecosystem to focus on. This chosen, I research it, think about the main characters and write a story about them based around facts. Normally I choose an animal that is endangered or whose habitat is threatened. I’ve written books about turtles, hatchlings, queen conch, dolphins, monkeys and geckos. At the start of the book, I design the toys for the main characters so they can be made while I write the book. I like to make them with unique features and very soft and cuddly. Before completion, each book has its facts checked by scientists that are experts on the topic.
How do you decide what the illustrations should be for your books?
I just think of the illustrations as I write the story. I plan the story outline for each page so I can then produce the illustrations to match. I do the illustrations after the story is written and it is quite a disciplined process working on them day after day until they are finally finished. I always show them to my family at the end of each day and hope that they like them. As I am one of three generations of artists there are often some constructive comments from the other generations!
Which was your favorite book to work on and why?
That is definitely a hard question. I don’t think I have a favourite. I’d say some were harder to do than others. For example, ‘Turtle Tracks’ and ‘Happy Hatchlings’ were easier because I already knew about turtles, often seeing them when swimming here in Barbados. ‘Calypso Conch’ was the hardest because I knew little about a conch’s life cycle. I’d also never drawn a conch before so the book took a longer time to finish. To research ‘Manatee Magic’ and ‘Dolphin Discovery’ I went to Florida, enjoying a holiday with my husband and our US agents, Joy and Skip. ‘Monkey Mischief’ has a personal connection because the monkeys are in my garden and the dogs are our family’s dogs. So, all the books mean something different to me.
Do you have advice for environmental writers and educators working with children?
I don’t know if I’m qualified to give advice! I’ve certainly learned a lot by asking advice from teachers and scientists, friends and family. I’ve read at schools – and my advice if you’re going to do this is don’t make your book too long! In my experience children take in a lot at a young age and if you give them the information they will retain it. I always put a few challenging words in the text, include something a little bit scary, add in some environment issues they probably won’t have thought about … and finish it off with a happy ending. Seeing the delight in their faces and hearing that my books are their favourite at bedtime is very rewarding. It’s also rewarding to know that families all around the world are learning more about their environment and hopefully to love and respect it.
Sue Trew has written 8 books on wildlife all published with eco-friendly laminate! You can find her work at www.turtletracksfamily.com or on social media @turtletracksfamily. If you would like to work with Sue Trew on a book you can contact her at either of the platforms above. Thank you Sue, for making wildlife education accessible and fun for all ages!