Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author David LaRochelle (100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli)!
Meet the Author: David LaRochelle
David LaRochelle is the author of many books for children including How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans, The Best Pet of All, and The Haunted Hamburger and Other Ghostly Stories. David lives in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
About the Book: 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli
This wacky counting adventure by Geisel Award-winning author David LaRochelle is a hilarious ode to dragons and math, with pitch-perfect art by Lian Cho.
High on a mountain live 100 mighty dragons all named Broccoli. When a tremendous wind blows half the dragons away, ten others sail off to become professional surfers in Hawaii. The oldest and youngest dragons take a train to New York City to start their own heavy metal band. And a mysterious wizard turns four more into a unicorn, a werewolf, a zombie, and a tiny pink poodle. Now how many dragons are left? Young readers will delight in following each and every dragon as they leave their home for marvelous adventures, until there is but one dragon remaining. That’s when this final dragon named Broccoli retreats to a cave for the winter and reappears in the spring with a surprise that will thrill and delight. Prepare to read again!
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
I’ve always loved puzzles (and dragons!), and this is reflected in many of my books. 100 Mighty Dragons feels like a big math puzzle to me.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
This is a difficult question. The illustrator, Lian Cho, did a magnificent job with all the dragons she painted throughout the book. Each scene is so much fun for me to look at and discover all the surprising details she included. If I had to choose one, I’d pick the final spreads where 100 baby dragons are revealed. Kids always laugh because of the unexpected dragon names, and I love how Lian has given each one a unique personality.
YABC: If you could only write one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Picture books. The form allows for so much experimentation. I’ve written a book that is told backwards (The End), a book composed of only addition equations (1 + 1 = 5), and a book that is told with just one word (Moo!). I love the challenge of twisting the form in a new way within the limitations of 32 pages and a few words.
YABC: How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?
When I was an elementary teacher, my mother said that I never graduated beyond the fourth grade. This has a lot of truth to it. I’ve never stopped pretending, playing games, and reading children’s books. I’ve never completely grown up, and that has been a great asset. I also spend a lot of time visiting elementary schools throughout the year, which keeps me in contact with young people.
YABC: What can readers expect to find in your books?
Humor. And hopefully some surprises. I’m delighted when the author of a book I’m reading surprises me, and I try very hard to do the same thing with my own stories.
YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?
Hands down it is homemade chocolate chip cookies. It makes me hungry just thinking about them.
YABC: If you were able to meet them, would you be friends with your main character?
Yes, but only if the dragons promised not to set me on fire.
YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?
I watch reruns of the game show The $25,000 Pyramid on YouTube.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
In July, my next book comes out: See the Ghost: Three Stories About Things You Cannot See. It is the third beginning reader book I’ve created with my good friend and illustrator Mike Wohnoutka.
YABC: What is your favorite holiday or tradition and why?
Halloween! I’m passionate about pumpkin carving. For over thirty years I’ve been carving elaborate jack-o-lanterns. This hobby has landed me appearances on local and national television shows, including live demonstrations on Good Morning America. One of my pumpkin creations this year was a fire-breathing dragon, with flames represented by orange and yellow ribbons blown through the dragon’s mouth by a small battery-operated fan. I thought this was an appropriate idea for my new book. You can view a gallery of my past pumpkins at www.davidlarochelle.com.
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
100 mighty thank-yous for the opportunity to share my new book with your readers!
Title: 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli
Author: David LaRochelle
Illustrator: Lian Cho
Release Date: April 4, 2023
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: 3-7 years
