Story Sparks & Surprises with Katie Arthur, Author and Illustrator of BACKPACK

A beloved bag can carry a lot more than lunch and library books. In the new picturebook, Backpack (Owlkids Books), a familiar everyday object becomes a companion through school days, family trips, new adventures, and all the small moments worth carrying along.

Author and illustrator Katie Arthur captures the particular attachment children can have to the things that travel everywhere with them. Backpacks can be overstuffed or too small, filled with favourite belongings and unexpected memories, and worn in whatever way feels right. At the heart of the story is the excitement of being in motion, as putting on a backpack means you're headed somewhere, and somewhere new might be waiting. Warm, playful, and immediately recognizable, Backpack is also a story about growing independence and the comfort of having a little piece of home along for the ride.

Today, we're speaking with Arthur about the inspiration behind the book, writing from a child's perspective, and finding a story in something many of us sling over our shoulders every day.

Open Book:

Every picture book starts somewhere. What was the spark for this story, and how did it evolve from your first rough draft to the final pages we see today?

Katie Arthur:

Backpack is one of the quickest picture books I’ve ever written. The words came all at once, almost as if the story was writing itself. I can’t stress enough that this is not the way it usually goes for me! I usually write my books at tortoise-speed and have a terribly annoying habit of editing as I go. The manuscript was of course finetuned as I shared it with my partner, and my agent, and eventually my editor, Jennifer Stokes. But I think the general shape of the story was there from the start.

And in terms of the spark: I still use a backpack to lug my stuff around—to work, on trips, to presentations—and it always makes me feel a bit like a kid to have it on my back, which I love. So I think this was where the first seed was planted. I began reflecting on how important a backpack is to a child as they begin school. It’s this little container of all their personal effects: water bottles, art projects, lunch bags, sticks, rocks, bracelets, you name it. It can carry everything, and it’s so symbolic of transitions and new adventures. Plus, I think I always gravitate towards stories about the everyday: the little details that make our lives what they are. And what’s more everyday than a backpack?

OB:

Read-aloud magic: is there a line or a page turn that always makes kids (and you) pause, giggle, or gasp? What makes it land?

KA:

So far, kids seem to really respond to the spread in the book that features two full pages of different kinds of backpacks (32 in total!) all lined up in rows. It’s not a giggly read-aloud moment. But they love poring over the various styles, shapes, and sizes of the backpacks and choosing their favourites. The elephant backpack is pretty popular. Maybe I have a future as a backpack designer?

OB:

Picture books pack big feelings into just a few words. How did you keep the heart of the book on the page without being too on-the-nose or “message-y”?

KA:

I find striking the right balance between the words and the pictures very helpful in this area. Sometimes it’s super important to keep your writing very lean and economical and let the pictures contain the emotional heft. For me, there’s nothing better in a picture book than when the text and the visuals are really working together—each one adding a different layer of meaning.

OB:

Rhythm, rhyme, repetition—sometimes they’re superpowers, sometimes tricky traps. What’s your secret for getting the sound and flow just right?

KA:

Read your writing out loud. Constantly. I do this when I write anything, even an email, much to the chagrin of everyone around me! But with picture books, it’s essential. These are texts that are designed to be read aloud to a child (as well as independently) so you have to make sure the pacing works in both contexts. You’ll know right away if something is off when you say the words.

OB:

Young readers are very honest critics. Did you test lines or sketches with kids, and how did their reactions shape what stayed—or went?

KA:

I have two very smart daughters who read widely and often—so often we sometimes can’t get them to finish breakfast because they’re so immersed in a book ☺ So they are some of my most honest and astute early readers. I test everything out on them and pay very close attention to their reactions. If a joke or an idea doesn’t land with them, I usually don’t pursue it.

With Backpack, I shared a lot of early sketches and ideas with my daughters and consulted with them quite a bit on backpack shapes and designs. I also took a few reference photos at their very lovely school (shoutout to the Antigonish Education Centre!) of cubbies, backpack hooks, and hallways.

OB:

If a teacher or librarian built a storytime or lesson around your book, what’s the activity or discussion you’d secretly hope they do?

KA:

I can definitely envision a build-your-own backpack activity, where kids design and create personalized backpacks, and then write or draw the objects they might like to put inside (from the ordinary to the zany!)

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Katie Arthur writes, draws, and edits books for young readers. She is the author & illustrator of Our Woolly Bear, What if Marty Doesn’t Like My Party? and Backpack, and the illustrator of Whale Man: The Story of Jon Lien. Her work has earned recognition from the American Library Association, the Texas Library Association, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, the Ontario Library Association, and School Library Journal. In addition to making her own books, Katie really loves working with other authors and illustrators as a freelance editor. She is also a former advertising copywriter, and still dabbles on occasion (more about that over here). She has an MA in English Literature from Concordia University, a graduate certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School for Writers, and experience presenting and teaching in both school and community settings.