Interview with Debbie Ridpath Ohi and I Want to Read All The Books!

I'm squealing! Today, I have another awesome interview...and this one especially made me smile. I've been enjoying this author/illustrator's works for several years. So, to finally get the chance to ask a few questions was a huge honor. 

I WANT TO READ ALL THE BOOKS

by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING SEPTEMBER 17th!!!

An insatiably curious girl decides the only way to answer all her questions is to read all the books in this funny and charming picture book in the spirit of The Library Fish and Tom Chapin’s The Library Book.

Hana wants to know everything about the world around her. When she starts asking questions, her mother gives her a book. She learns so much, but now she has even more questions! She also has a big she will read all the books—every single one! She reads every book in her house…and then her friends’ houses…and then the whole block. Nonfiction, fiction, romance, mysteries, and science fiction. But when her mother takes her to the downtown library, she realizes there are a lot more books than she thought…way more. Maybe she can’t really read all the books—now what?

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

INTERVIEW 

Thank you so much, Debbie, for taking the time to sit down and answer some questions. It's always fun to learn more about the person behind the books, and it's a treat to have you on Bookworm for Kids!

Q.      While I’d love to dive right into the book themes with you, first I have a very important question. What are your three favorite board games? Yep, my household loves board games, and when I read that you’re currently working on books in this area, I had to ask.

 

Thanks for asking about board games, one of my favorite hobbies!

It's tough to pick just one favorite board game because it really depends on the situation and (most importantly) the people I'm playing with. That said, my preferences have evolved over the years. I used to be open to any board game but now I prefer games that don’t rely heavily on betrayal and backstabbing – unless there's a cooperative or humor element involved.

I have a soft spot for themed board games, especially those with a horror theme. It might seem odd, given that I’m a picture book creator, but I've always been a fan of horror. Cooperative games, where players work together to beat the game, are my favorite. So, naturally, horror-themed board games like Mansions of Madness, Arkham Horror, and Betrayal at House on the Hill are right in my sweet spot.

I also enjoy casual party games like Just One and So Clover, which are perfect for lighter, fun-filled gatherings. Most recently, I’ve also been really enjoying Heat: Pedal To The Metal - it’s my favorite racing board game.

 

Oooo... You just added to our gaming list! I have no doubt that, at least, one of these will get my husband to swing away from his current favorite, Mysterium.

(Q. Not only are you a board game enthusiast, but I saw you play several musical instruments, are a computer programmer, have introduced more than a few writing platforms to the online world, and are a successful author as well as an illustrator. Considering that large variety of talents, what drew you to the Kidlit realm?

 

Thanks for the kind words!

This was a challenging question to answer because I feel like I’ve ALWAYS been part of the kidlit realm. I’ve wanted to write books for kids ever since I was a kid myself. I loved the feeling of getting so involved in a book that the rest of the world disappeared, of immersing myself in the story. I feel similarly when I’m playing or composing music, writing or illustrating, am coding, or even when I’m playing a really good game.

Ultimately, what drew me to creating kidlit books is wanting to create that kind of experience for a young person: to make them FEEL, to be so immersed in someone else’s creation that they’re able to look at the world a different way, even for just a short time.

 

Q. Do you enjoy writing or illustrating more?

Honestly, both fulfill a different part of my creative need to create. When I was younger, I drew all the time just for the fun; it never crossed my mind that I’d ever be able to make illustration part of my career. I’ve also enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember.

I find there is an ebb and flow to whether I lean toward writing or illustrating, depending on my mood and whether I’m creating just for myself or for others.

It does sound nice to be able to switch things up like that!

Q. What were your favorite books while growing up?

 As a child, I used to gravitate toward books that mix elements of fantasy and mystery, like the Half Magic books by Edward Eager, for example, The Ship That Flew by Hilda Lewis (a gift from my father), and The Diamond In The Window by Jane Langton. I loved books where I identified with the main character is some way, like A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle and Harriet The Spy by Louise Fitzhugh.

 But I also loved scarier books like The House With A Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs and Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.

Q. What was your biggest wish as a child?

I always wanted to be a writer. I wanted to write stories that engage readers so thoroughly that the rest of their regular world falls away, to make them feel the way I did while I was reading a good book. I used to fill many notebooks with stories, some with scribbly illustrations, just for myself and some for my teachers.

Here’s a sample from my very first chapter book. I feel sorry for Miss Heinbuck, my second-grade teacher, having to read all that faint pencil writing. Her comments really encouraged me!

 

I was shocked but delighted when Simon & Schuster editor Justin Chanda discovered my art at an SCBWI conference portfolio showcase in 2010.

I still haven’t given up my dream of someday having my novels for young people published. After my current picture book illustration project is finished, I plan to turn my focus to getting some middle grade projects ready to submit. Wish me luck!

Tons of luck to you! I'm looking forward to seeing what adventures are still to come. 

Q. And what about your favorite snack? Or don’t you snack?

Your second question made me laugh. I am QUEEN of snacks! I don’t really have a favorite snack, but I do try to keep fruit and cut up vegetables and hummus easily accessible so I don’t go straight for my husband’s favourite snacks, which tend to be not as health-conscious.

Thank you so much for letting me visit your blog, Tonja!

 

 

Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s writing or art has appeared in over 20 books for young people. She is the award-winning author and illustrator of Where Are My Books? and Sam & Eva with Simon & Schuster. Her illustrations appear in books by Judy Blume, Michael Ian Black and Linda Sue Park, among others. Her upcoming book, I Want To Read ALL The Books, launches Sept 2024. Debbie lives with her husband in Toronto, Canada. For more info, see DebbieOhi.com.

MY TIDBITS

A little spark of curiosity can lead to something much more mountainous...and not necessarily in the direction a person might think.

Little Hana is simply enjoying watching the rain through her window, when she wonders where the rain drops come from. Instead of giving her the answer, her mother gives her a book. After all, there are books about almost everything. The more Hana learns, the more questions she has...and so does her thirst for books. More and more books. If she reads every single book that there is, she's sure she'll know everything. But getting ahold of every single book that exists isn't exactly easy.

When I first picked this up, I hoped it wouldn't simply be about the joy of reading...I've seen several books (lovely reads, by the way) along those lines. These pages go above and beyond that theme, and not only take a different twist to book-love but also stuff in the cutest little adventure with an adorable and very curious character. Hana's desire to learn is inspiring, but it's her determination to meet an impossible task, which puts a smile on the face. Things don't run smoothly, and while the plot doesn't stomp into loads of humor, it uses just the right dusting of silliness to draw a huge smile.

There are several messages in these pages, and they don't rotate sheerly around books. Hana needs to understand those around her better, and she needs to work with her expectations versus reality. The mother is very supportive and patient, and there's a nice twist at the end to inspire, too.

The text flows very well, making it a nice read-aloud. The illustrations swing in a lighter-toned direction and balance with the right motions and details to let the story take gain richness. It's an enjoyable read with lots of positive goodness.