Review and Interview! Hammer and Nails by Josh Bledsoe

HAMMER AND NAILS

by Josh Bledsoe

Illustrated by Jessica Warrick

Flashlight Press

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 3+

Darcy has plans. She and her friend are going to play dress up, do each other’s hair, and polish their nails. Daddy has plans, too. He’s going to read the paper, mow the lawn, and fix the fence. When Darcy’s friend cancels and she’s sure her day is ruined, Daddy suggests that they tackle their to-do lists together with a Darcy-Daddy Day. Daddy dons a tutu, and Darcy gives him a fancy hair do. They groom the lawn with Her Majesty’s Mowing Service and face off in a Daddy-directed sock battle. But will Darcy want to hammer? Will Daddy do nails? Stepping outside their comfort zones, Darcy and Daddy opt to be open-minded and even a bit daring. As Daddy says, “Sometimes things you’ve never done end up being fun!” With a gung-ho attitude, Darcy masters the hammer, and Daddy goes for it with the nails.

 MY TIDBITS

Princess pink fluffiness slams against a hammer, nails and a lawn mower in a fun cooperation.

Darcy's excited about a princess day until her friend has to cancel their plans. Luckily, Darcy's dad stands at the rescue. He needs to get a few things done, but agrees to mix it with her princess schedule. Together, they create the best day ever.

This dad deserves kudos and more. He not only makes every princess dream come true (a nail polish is not an easy thing to deal with) but doesn't let his own work fall to the wayside. This is a perfect demonstration of real cooperation with tons of love. Not only does it work, but the results bring more fun to both sides than they would have originally had on their own.

Darcy is a sweet, little girl with a very normal girl dream to play princess. Her heartbreak, when the day is cancelled, is understandable. Especially girls will sympathize with her. The father is a shinning example of dad's love and warms the heart. The ideas the two come up with to meet both of their wishes and needs is sweet, humorous and full of warm, happy feelings. It's hard not to love the dad/daughter relationship of after going through these pages.

The illustrations are colorful and glide right along with a text fitting for ages 3+. There are cute details worked in, which guarantee a revisit time and again. 

My favorite aspect of this book (besides the wonderful ideas of mixing princess with hard work) is the dialogue. It comes across extremely natural and doesn't have the normal picture book feel. These two are people from everyday life.

Summed up, this is a great read for daughters and their dads. 

INTERVIEW!!!!

Yep, Josh was kind enough to agree to answer a few questions. . .and it seems as if he's as awesome as the dad in his book! 

Hammer and Nails is your first picture book. What gave you the push to 
tackle this sort of writing?

I've always loved writing.  Up until this project, that writing had been confined
to volume after volume of journals.  One evening, when I was reading a picture
book to my then four year old daughter, my mother-in-law happened to be listening
in.  When the book was mercifully and finally finished (it was SO LONG!), she
looked over to me and simply said, "Josh, you could write a book.  You could
do that."  It's amazing what a well timed and sincere word of encouragement can
do!  That's the short version of my leap into picture book land.  Hammer and Nails
was born from, ironically then, the push I felt in my own life to "try new things". 
I say ironically because the characters in the book (Darcy and her daddy)

are faced with decisions during the story that lead them to bravely step in to new 

experiences of their own.  I was, in multiple ways, writing my own life; my
daughter, our time together, my dreams, my fears, my push to be brave and
step into unknown territory...it's all there in the book.  

You aren't only a dad, but an elementary teacher (always 
around kids), and are probably are hit with all sorts of story
 inspirations. Do you have anything in particular coming 
out next? Or are you working on something new?

Well, you are correct in that there is no shortage of story inspiration!  Sometimes
I'll look at a student and think, "Wow.  You are just WAITING to have a book
written about you!".  Seriously though, I've been teaching for 13 years now, and
through those years I have accumulated quite the stockpile of what I'd call
"story situations".  Basically, that's what I'm on the lookout for; situations that
a story could be built around.  These "hooks" or situations are literally everywhere! 
So, yes.  I have several other ideas that I hope will one day work there way out
of my brain and into the light of day.  But...that's WAY easier said than done.   

  

I noticed that you also enjoy fishing and cross country too. 
How do you work writing into such a busy schedule? 
(Lots of writers would love a secret formula on this one.)

Guilty.  I have lots of hats, hobbies, and irons in the fire.  I also took on helping
coach a couple of basketball teams this winter, and am coaching my sons
soccer team this spring.  With that said, I must be honest; no writing happens
for me unless it's summertime.  I guess that's my secret, which probably
isn't very helpful (unless you are also a teacher, in which case you already
KNEW that was likely the secret!).  Seriously though, even when it is summer, 

my approach to writing is likely different than many others.  I don't push it.
For me personally, I can't push it.  I can't make myself write 500 words a day,
or come up with 3 new story ideas.  I can't MAKE myself be creative.  So, there
 are many days/weeks/months...that I don't write.  Yikes, huh?!  

Inspiration can only be found in life! Writing constantly 
would be hard. So what's your favorite 'to do' activity 
with your own kids?

Spending time with my own kids is probably, honestly, another reason I don't
write much currently.  My children, aged 9 and 11, are just too much fun.  If I
have to choose between playing basketball or soccer or swimming or doing
pretty much anything with them, or writing....I'm choosing them.  When they
 were little, we would do things similar to what Darcy and Daddy attempt in
HAMMER.  Now that they are a little older, we connect in different ways. 
A dad's gotta change with the times, and all that.  Heck, I even dabble in a 

little Musical.ly app every now and then.  (Don't know what that is? 
This dad does! :) 

Guilty! I have no idea what that is. What's the most amazing 
experience you've had as a teacher?

Oh man, teaching is a whirlwind.  I could spend a couple days talking about
teaching, but if I had to list the TWO best parts about it, they'd be these:

There is nothing like being able be silly at your work everyday.  I mean, the sillier
you are, and the less seriously you take yourself, the more you can connect
with your students. There is nothing like hearing from old students.  That's
what makes it worth it.  That's the reminder that you matter that keeps you
going back to work every day!   

Thanks a lot for stopping by! And all the best wishes. . .especially since I've heard 
that HAMMER AND NAILS received the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy 
CLEL Bell Award, TALK 2017-2108 Chickadee Award. Congratulations!!!

And here he is. . .

Josh Bledsoe is the author of Hammer and Nails, illustrated by Jessica Warrick, which 
encapsulates many of the things he loves about life: family time, a good cup of coffee, and impromptu living room
dance parties.

In addition to loving his job as an elementary school teacher, Josh enjoys trying to keep up 
with his Cross Country team on training runs, fishing with his best friends, and laughing
 on the couch with his beautiful wife of 12 years.

Josh considers himself a lucky man.  Between his own children (age 7 and 10), and his 
“other” children (a flock of fun-loving fifth graders), inspiration for writing is everywhere. 
 He is currently working on two middle grade novels, in addition to other picture book titles.

Josh lives in Nashville, TN. Hammer and Nails is his first picture book.