Screens n Kids had the opportunity to interview the author Eleanor Chun behind the awesome kids book The Invisibles. The genius idea / theme behind the book is to speak to kids on the importance of spending some time away from their screens and back to the fundamentals of childhood play – the creativity, the imagination and simple fun.
You can order a copy directly from the website – http://www.invisibles.ca Or you can get a copy off of amazon https://www.amazon.ca/Invisibles-Eleanor-Chun/dp/1525548174/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+invisible+eleanor+chun&qid=1606278733&sr=8-1
What do you do in your free time? Gardening in the warmer months, crochet/knitting in the colder months, and reading a good book any time of year.
Do you need to be in a specific place or room to write, or you can just sit in the middle of a café full of people and write?I usually need a quiet space. It can be the kitchen, living room, home office etc. just so long as I have a pen & paper or computer.
Who are some of the children’s authors you grew up reading?Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl, Stan and Jan Berenstain (The Berenstain Bears), Beatrix Potter, Robert Munsch, C.S. Lewis, Kenneth Grahame (Wind in the Willows)… and so many others!
What is the / are some of the most important things about a children’s book?I love how children’s books offer a porthole into an imaginative world. It’s a place where there’s often whimsy and fun, but can also have deep messages and meaning underscored for a child’s development.
How long have you been conceptualizing the Invisibles in your mind before you actually decided to put it down into a book?That’s hard to say because the theme of the book – helping kids balance screen time – was something that percolated in my mind when my oldest child started to spend more time on screens. The actual characters and story came together in about 30 minutes (for the first draft) several years later.
Who / What was your main inspiration to write the book Invisibles?My children as well as other children in our lives (my kid’s friends and relatives). In spending time with other parents, I realized we all had a common issue – too much screen time for the kids and the many challenges and solutions we shared towards regulating that screen time.
What is the main theme you wanted to put across in your latest book Invisibles? why do you think it is important?Technology is a great tool, the purpose of this story to help children balance screen time with other activities towards a healthy and balanced lifestyle. As the issue of screen time comes to the forefront in our modern-day, there are many strategies and regulations from educators and parents to help kids. This book serves to inspire and encourage children to also play a part in their own self-regulation of screen time.
Who is your main target audience? Parents? Teachers? Children – what age?We absolute want parents and educators involved in bringing this story to the children, the main audience and age group are kids senior kindergarten to grade 4.
How in your opinion do you feel the books’ theme can make children look away from their screens and take regular breaks?It’s amazing how an idea/inspiration for a child can motivate them. In this case, the inspiration is found in these imaginative, adorable creatures called the Invisibles. These Invisibles represent imaginative play and how children end up missing out on this by spending too much time on screens. Children easily relate to these cute characters and feel welcomed into their world of play without relying on screens.
Do you feel e-books offer the same experience as regular had copy books? If not why so?There’s nothing like the feel and interaction with the pages of an actual book. I own an e-reader to house my collection, but whenever possible, I’ll try to get a physical copy from the library or buy one myself. There is a place for e-books and this story is available as an e-copy in certain formats, but especially for younger children, I feel a physical copy just adds more to the overall reading experience.
In your years as a children’s writer – do you think children are reading less, more or relatively the same?I’m relatively new to the children’s author scene, but from observation as a parent and member of my community, I think time on screens has affected how children may view reading. Sometimes it’s positive in that a series or movie will cause kids to read the book version, but I don’t think it’s always the case.
What is our role as parents / caregivers to spark that imaginative flame in children?Children have a wonderful world of discovery before them and I think it’s up to us to help them interact positively with their world. Things like encouraging free play, imagination, physical activity and engaging with others through friendship and family bonds, and especially fostering their unique interests along the way.
What advice would you give writers struggling with their first book?Don’t give up! There can be frustrating times along the way, but keep at it and it can happen.
