“I write my stories for children, so that they may read it for themselves or have someone read it for them.”
-Jenny Carey
Jenny, thank you for joining us. Can you share a bit about what inspired you to write The Travels of Mr. Cat? What was it about a cat’s perspective that fascinated you for this story?
I write my stories for children, so that they may read it for themselves or have someone read it for them. I wanted it to entertain them, so tried to make it engaging while not being frightening in any way. Children may identify their pets in Mr Cat, as cats like to wander in their own neighbourhood and have their own adventures.
Mr. Cat is such a lovable character, full of charm and curiosity. How did you develop his personality, and what do you think makes him such an ideal companion for young readers?
I had cats as pets when I was a child, and they all had their own characteristics. Each one of my pets used to go out exploring the neighbourhood, but I was always curious where they went. I thought about this when writing my book and incorporated adventures for Mr Cat, which may explain where a cat may go on their ventures.
The book has a wonderful, easy-to-read style with a touch of humor and warmth. How did you balance keeping the story light and playful while also imparting deeper lessons about connection, empathy, and the beauty of simple moments?
Cats are curious by nature, and all have a unique personality which helps to nurture emotional development in children. Cats can help children with empathy, and can teach responsibility, so by using these qualities in my story, it teaches children in a subtle way and hopefully, does not feel like a lesson.
In The Travels of Mr. Cat, Mr. Cat takes on many small adventures that have a big emotional impact. Why did you choose to focus on these seemingly simple events, like interacting with farm animals or sniffing flowers, rather than a more complex plot or dramatic conflict?
I intended to have Mr Cat interact with other animals, and hoped that children would be curious about their world outside their own doors. By looking at animals and being reminded that the smallest of animals will have a story to tell, and maybe they too will have experienced adventures and a touch of mischievousness.
The countryside and farm settings feel almost like characters in their own right. How important were these settings to the narrative, and how did they help to shape Mr. Cat’s adventures?
As a nurse, I encountered patients of many diversities and cultures. I observed how people interacted with each other and used this as inspiration for my book, and how a cat would interact with other animals, with mutual respect and importance of harmony and indiversity.
The book’s illustrations play a key role in bringing the story to life. How did you collaborate with the illustrator to create visuals that complement the tone of the book? What was the vision behind the artistic style?
I gave instructions to the illustrator on how I imagined the particular aspect of the story would be seen by the reader. The illustrations were a visual representation of each part of Mr Cat’s adventures. This brought to life the story as I envisioned it, by making the illustrations colourful, this helps children to visualise the adventures that Mr Cat experienced, so even if they were unable to read, they could still envision the story as it unfolded.
One of the most touching moments in the book is when Mr. Cat returns home to Kate after his adventures. How do you think this simple act of returning home speaks to the book’s themes of love, connection, and comfort?
Animals make friends with all other species and they don’t discriminate against each other. Cats will love unconditionally. If an animal is treated with love and kindness, they will be faithful and loving back to you.
The interactions between Mr. Cat and the farm animals, especially the sheep, are quite endearing. What message about diversity and harmony do you hope young readers take away from these scenes?
By using the illustrations as a visual aid, and making the book simple with humour and heart warming moments of tender scenes with other animals, and human connection, it shows kindness and inclusion.
While The Travels of Mr. Cat is geared toward younger readers, do you think there are messages in the book that can also resonate with adults, especially those who may need a reminder to appreciate the small moments in life?
Parents and educators can use my book to encourage children to be kind to others including animals, and encourage them to be curious about their environment, and to explore and have adventures, by feeding their imagination and promoting emotional growth and social learning.
After the success of The Travels of Mr. Cat, what’s next for you? Are there plans to continue Mr. Cat’s adventures, or will you be exploring new stories in the future?
I have already written another book called, Fun Poems For Your Child. This is a book of fun poems that will delight and entertain children. I was inspired to write this book with children in mind and thinking of my own experiences as a child. I also have a coloring book called, A Coloring Book For Children, which is the illustrations from my other two books.
If you had to tell your life story in your own words, what would you say?
I am a retired nurse, with over twenty years of experience within a nursing setting. Before nursing, I worked in the hosiery industry for over sixteen years. I also worked in various industries since the age of fifteen, when I left school. Exposure to various industries helped me to have insight into people and their emotions.
I married Andrew in 1981, and I retired from nursing in 2021. During the lockdown, I was inspired to write books for children. As children were not able to attend school, I wanted to write a book that would spark their curiosity and feed their imagination.
I started my career in nursing in 2002 as a student nurse at the age of 46. I had to gain qualifications to access university, and when I started university I thought maybe I was too old, but that was not true. Mature people can learn new things. I graduated with a diploma in higher education in 2005, then worked as a staff nurse in a hospital setting. I wanted to gain a degree, so in 2012 I graduated with a BSc with honours.
If you have a dream, chase it. I had a dream to write children’s books, so after I had written my stories, I contacted a publisher who liked my book, and from there the magic happened. You are never too old or unqualified—you just have to believe in yourself and follow your dream.
My website is: jennycarey.co.uk
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“By feeding their imagination and promoting emotional growth and social learning, children can explore and have adventures.”
-Jenny Carey
Links
- Know more about the BREW Book, Blog, and Poetry Awards here
Share Your Insights
What did you think of Jenny’s approach to storytelling for children?
- Which part of The Travels of Mr. Cat do you find most relatable?
- How do you encourage children to explore and learn empathy?
- What other themes would you like to see in children’s books?
Alignment with the UN SDGs
- SDG 4 (Quality Education): Promotes literacy and imagination through children’s books.
- SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Encourages emotional development and empathy in children.
- SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Highlights inclusion and respect for diversity through storytelling.
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Hi! Thank you so much for that. Kind regards.
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