The Sun Thief author steals our hearts!

In anticipation of our accessible adaptation of The Sun Thief, we welcomed Alice Hemming, author of The Leaf Thief series, to Living Paintings HQ. Following a tour of production, Alice very kindly lent her voice to the audio descriptive guide for The Sun Thief! We spoke with Alice about her work, the stories of Squirrel and Bird that have delighted children all over the UK. 

Your Leaf Thief series of books are about the seasons – how did you come up with the concept for these books?

I was inspired to write the The Leaf Thief on an autumnal walk. I liked the way the title sounded, and thought it might be funny if an animal thought someone had stolen the leaves. At first, I had no idea it was going to become a series. Even when I wrote the spring follow-up I thought it might stop at two.

Happily, they were popular with readers and the other books followed on from there.

Is the character of Squirrel based on anyone you know?

Sort of! Squirrel’s character was initially inspired by squirrels – to me they seem nervy, jumpy and excitable – but some of the mannerisms and catchphrases were inspired by friends and family.

For example, when Squirrel pretends to be ok when actually he’s still very worried. And the shouting for Bird for explanations!

Which is your favourite season and why?

I like all of them! I like having seasons and the transitions between them. There is something about the autumn though. The colours, bonfires, back to school stationery…

What do you like best about summer?

Long, light evenings pottering in the garden, the crack of ice being dropped into a cold drink and reading books in a shady spot on a hot day.

What do you like best about winter?

Walking in the woods on a cold, crisp day, crumble and custard and reading books under my favourite patchwork quilt by the fire.

What does it mean to you for children who are blind to be able to access your books?

I think it’s fantastic that all children, including those who are blind or partially sighted, are able to access the Leaf Thief series – I really hope they enjoy The Sun Thief!

What picture books are you working on next?

I’m currently working on a book about a brand new character with a humorous take on a science topic, some exciting illustrated non-fiction, and yes, more Squirrel and Bird! The natural world is full of surprises and Squirrel isn’t likely to run out of questions any time soon!

Thank you so much, Alice, for your generous support, helping us bring The Sun Thief to life for children who are blind or partially sighted.

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