Today we are very excited to share a special interview with author Gabrielle Balkan (What a Map Can Do)!
Read on to learn more about her, her book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Gabrielle Balkan
Gabrielle Balkan (she/her) is best known for nonfiction books that delight readers ages 2–12 with curious and essential facts about the United States, animal record-breakers, and more. She lives, works, and rides bikes in Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley with her twin fifth graders and a writer husband.
About the Book: What a Map Can Do
An accessible and humorous introduction to maps for budding navigators. A raccoon narrator embarks on a big adventure in this exciting exploration of maps for the youngest readers. Traditional maps of cities, roads, and parks are joined by some less conventional ones such as inside the body, each one methodically introduced with humor and clear explanation. A clever, colorful, and engaging first look at constructing and decoding maps.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
This is the first book I’ve ever worked on where the inspiration came from the illustrations! My editor, Cecily Kaiser, got a kick out of Alberto Lot’s cheery illustrations of maps. Once she signed up Alberto for a book, she got me on the horn. Together, we flipped through Alberto’s drawings and brainstormed how to turn his inventive maps into a playful and instructive story with a main character AND connect it all to early childhood curriculum.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I am really, really proud of the title, What a Map Can Do. For me, settling on a title is one of the most challenging parts of creating a book. How do you capture everything you’ve tried to do in a book with a memorable and clear title that is also an invitation to the reader?! In this case, noodling around for a title that did all those things helped me put the finishing touches on words inside the book. As you flip through racoon’s travel adventures, you can see how the title and the story work together… A map can show us which buses to take, a map can show us things we cannot see, a map can help us be prepared, and lots more!
YABC: What can readers expect to find in your books?
Quirky and essential information about animals, geography, and ground-breaking artists! I love being surprised by things I’ve learned and like to share those unusual tidbits with readers. Readers can also expect to find lots of satisfying facts, humor, and locations and details that show the breadth of human experience, like the sensory swing and noise-canceling headphones in raccoon’s bedroom and the full support swing seat at the playground.
YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?
I’ll take a bowl filled to the brim with salty popcorn and just about dripping with butter and truffle oil, please! Everyone else in our house hates the way truffle oil smells, so I have to time this snack very carefully or I’ll get in big trouble. And after something salty, I need something sweet, like watermelon, and then maybe some chocolate topped with cashew butter…BRB, time to grab something from the pantry!
YABC: If you were able to meet them, would you be friends with your main character?
Without a doubt! A furry friend whose favorite color is green, always has a smile on their face, and loves to explore? The racoon in this book likes to be prepared and is up for anything, whether it is a visit to an octopus exhibit at the natural history museum or a stargazing camping trip. That is exactly my kind of pal.
YABC: What’s your least favorite word or expression and why?
Oooh, it really gets my goat when people say something they’ve read is “random.” A piece of information that seems random to someone else might be very significant to the person who shares it! (This has happened to me a few times. And I’m still steamed!)
YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?
When I am procrastinating in a responsible way, I’ll reread a compelling scene of a favorite book. Right now I am rereading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. A crew of cowboys have just hired a new cook who makes them a breakfast they’ve never had: eggs that have been scrambled and then cooked long enough that they can cut it like a cake. The cowboys call it a “bird’s-egg pie.” You’d probably call it an omelet! When I’m procrastinating irresponsibly, I’ll play several dozen rounds of the card game Spades with my computer!
YABC: What fandom would you write for if you had time?
Is there such a thing as Monopoly fandom? I love finding out when different game pieces were introduced (the cat was introduced ten years ago!). . . it would be pretty fun to come up with stories and trivia based on the properties, houses, and game pieces! A bankrupt tophat meets a scotty dog on the Reading Railroad? Love that!
YABC: What’s up next for you?
What a Map Can Do isn’t the first book Cecily and I have worked on together, and luckily, it’s not the last! We’re currently looking at sketches for our next book, How To Be a Witch. The incredible Shana Gozansky (author of My Art Book of Friendship) and I co-wrote this book and the luminous art comes from Carmen Saldana (illustrator of I Give You the World). How To Be a Witch guides readers through the most essential qualities of witchdom, namely: rejoicing in nature and working to help others. You’ll see the finished book in Summer 2024 (but I won’t be able to resist showing a sneak peak before then on my insta!).
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
I love to see drawings of readers’ own maps—of real or invented places! Readers can find map drawing prompts at www.gabriellebalkan.com and social media by looking up the hashtag #AMapCan. Share your own maps with me by mail, email, or by tagging me on the socials @gabriellebalkan with the hashtag #AMapCan.
Title: What a Map Can Do
Author: Gabrielle Balkan
Illustrator: Alberto Lot
Release Date: 7/18/2023
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
ISBN-10: 0593519981
ISBN-13: 9780593519981
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: 3-5 yrs
~ Giveaway Details ~
Five (5) winners will receive a copy of What a Map Can Do (Gabrielle Balkan) ~US Only!
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
Where’s your favourite place you’ve travelled to?
My kids love Mal. Can’t wait to read it.
This book looks so great, I think my twins would love it!
The bright colors and the cute raccoon would catch the eye of any child!
This looks like a fun way to introduce maps to young learners!
Looks fun
Fun cover to match this non-fiction picture book.
I love the idea of giving this book to my nephew. The cover is cute, and I believe that my nephew would really enjoy reading a children’s book about maps.