Date Published: 2025
Publisher: Serapis Bey Publishing
Illustrator: Brian Dumm
Ready…Set…Let’s Roll!
Interview
Is There a Message in Your Children’s Book That You Want Readers to Grasp?
The Wheels on the Stroller appears to be a very simple book for the very young but the intentions behind it are much more complex. I was fortunate to have an illustrator who was able to portray these messages in his lovely illustrations.
My message as a former speech-language pathologist/educator is for parents/caregivers to verbally describe what is going on in a child’s world to enrich their speech/language development and to use song and actions to facilitate that learning in a fun, playful manner.
My message as a parent/grandparent is for grownups
to “be fully present in the moment with children” as often as you can to build
strong emotional bonds with them. Taking
“quality” stroller walks together and singing and acting out Stroller
facilitate those close connections.
My message as a person who values well-being and stress management is for readers to get out in nature and experience its joys- listen to the birds, enjoy the change of seasons, smell the fragrance of flowers. What a special gift to share with very young children who hopefully will continue to notice and appreciate the simple things in life as they grow.
My message as a member of a close-knit community
is for readers to walk regularly around their neighborhoods, meet their neighbors
(including friendly dogs!) and appreciate people of different ages, abilities
and backgrounds.
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
This is my first children’s book although I have published several
rhyming poems in “Highlights High Five””/Highlights” magazines and a few poems
in anthologies. I love to write rhyming
poems!
When did you begin writing?
Ever since my mom helped me write a 2-line rhyming poem in 1st
grade that got published in the elementary school newspaper, I have loved to
write. Grades on writing assignments
throughout my schooling were always important to me. I have often kept personal journals over the
years. As a speech-language pathologist,
I was required to write copious educational evaluation reports about students. I always loved writing the more creative part
of the reports including my observations of student behavior and descriptions
of their positive attributes. I also
enjoyed writing poems/stories to enhance student learning of concepts.
How long did it take to complete this first book?
The Wheels on the Stroller was developed over
a 2 ½ year period.
Some of that time involved long stroller walks with my grandson and then
more stroller walks with his baby brother.
This book has been heavily researched!
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always loved the rhythm of rhyming books and still do and I enjoy
reading books that make kids laugh. Dr.
Seuss and James Marshall inspired me and currently I enjoy reading the Aaron
Blabey, Pig the Pug books to my grandkids.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
-The Wheels on the
Stroller
has very few words and obviously didn’t require a huge “process.”
-I wrote personalized
poems for adults to give as gifts for several years and I enjoyed the challenge
of rhyming words at the end of lines while expressing thoughts/sentiments with
an economical use of words within the lines- all with a consistent meter!
When writing anything, I
need to physically have a gel pen in hand and let the words just pour out on
the paper.
Describe your latest book in 4 words.
Stroller, neighborhood, nature, neighbors
Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?
I wrote an amusing rhyming book years ago about animals and I may be
revisiting it.
About the Author
When teaching at the preschool level, Claudia encouraged busy parents to utilize the time spent carrying out daily routines as language-rich opportunities. Parents were counseled to talk about what was happening in a child’s “here and now” - while getting dressed, brushing teeth, taking a stroller walk! Claudia used available and self-generated rhymes and songs and involved as many bodily senses and movements as possible to facilitate developmental skills in preschoolers. She considers the repetition used in The Wheels on the Bus book and now in The Wheels on the Stroller to be a valuable learning tool for young children. According to early childhood research, repetition reinforces language processing, pattern recognition and a sense of predictability. It also provides children with opportunities to rehearse new sound and word sequences.
After retirement, Claudia’s love of rhyme inspired her to take a few children’s poetry writing classes. She was pleased to have several poems published in “Highlights High Five” and “Highlights” magazines, with two poems also published in children’s anthologies. The joy of reading to her sons long ago and now her grandchildren sparked her desire to write a children’s book as well. One day, after she and her young grandson enthusiastically sang and motioned along with The Wheels on the Bus book, grandma and grandson set out for one of their many adventure-seeking neighborhood stroller walks. As the wheels on his stroller went round and round, they greeted neighbors with tail-wagging dogs, watched squirrels scurry up trees and delighted in the “ding! ding! ding!” of an approaching bicycle along with other encounters- The Wheels on the Stroller was spontaneously born!
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