The plot is simple: a little sheep knocks on the door of a wolf lord to ask for shelter and what could have ended in lamb stew is the beginning of a beautiful relationship that abounds in literature: the wise old man and the young apprentice Only in this case emotional intelligence plays a fundamental role. This is how the English creator Steve Smallman published The Little Sheep Who Came to Dinner (Beascoa) in 2006, the first installment of a tender and comic series for young children (3-4 years old), with a certain dose of intrigue and lots of hugs, which It was liked in England but where it truly found roots was in Spain, where sales skyrocketed. The wolves who came to dinner, The crocodile who came to dinner, The tiger who came to dinner... are other titles in the series that this Christmas has one more protagonist, an armadillo who doesn't like hugs too much. . Taking advantage of his visit to Barcelona these days, we spoke with Smallman about the series and why hugs are so essential.
How does this whole story begin?
This all started when my children were already teenagers and had outgrown the things that children like to do. But I still loved going fishing on the rocks, jumping in puddles and feeding the little birds. I get excited when I see a sheep, well, not so much. So I thought I'd have to wait until I was a little older and had grandchildren before I could share those things with a younger person again. It's like looking at the world through the eyes of someone younger.
That's how I came up with the idea that I would write a story about two characters, one older and one younger, and how the world changes for the older person thanks to the interaction with the little one. But instead of doing the typical story of a grandfather bear and his grandson bear cub, I thought of talking about two animals that normally don't get together. That's how I went to look for an old wolf and a young lamb.
Does this type of story require having been a parent or having very direct contact with young children?
Yes I think so. I worked at home as an illustrator when my four children were little, so I got to spend a lot of time with them. And the things they did, what they said, and their way of seeing the world, I think has directly translated into what I write.
In this story, however, the illustrations are not his. Because?
The publisher didn't want me to do the illustrations. I was very surprised because he had been an illustrator for 20 years and I knew he could draw. What I didn't know was if he could write. But, to my surprise, the editor told me that he liked the story, but that they didn't want the drawings.
How did you feel when you saw your story with someone else's illustrations?
At first I wasn't very convinced. I thought, oh, that's different, because I had a very powerful image in my head. But actually, when I saw the finished work, I thought it was just lovely. And it worked. Because Joëlle really has a very special touch and brings warmth and energy to the images, and I think the result is wonderful.
In the following stories in this series, have you worked together?
The truth is that there is little contact between author and illustrator. Everything is done through the editor, so the editor controls everything. But it's also true that the characters are very powerful and stable and that Joëlle and I have a very special connection, so I very rarely want to change anything she does.
Have you continued illustrating?
Yes, I have continued to illustrate, but not for Little Tiger Press, which is the publisher that publishes this collection.
Is he already a grandfather?
Yes, I have eight grandchildren
Have you then managed to reconnect with your child again?
I have never had problems connecting with my inner child, but it is true that the experience of sharing time and experiences with my grandchildren, with whom I spend a lot of time, has been wonderful. It's like turning the clock around and being a dad again.
The first book in the series was published in 2006. What has changed during all this time in the relationship between the wolf and the young lamb?
The relationship between the two, at this moment, is one of pure love, there is nothing else. Before there was a little bit of that thing of... yeah, you're very nice, you're fine but you're also delicious, you know? Not now, now they are a family completed by Tortilla, the crocodile, who is a bit like the dog, and they are very open and welcome to everyone. Obviously, this is sometimes put to the test, such as in the book The Tiger Who Came to Dinner, in which Tiger tries to eat Stew.
Ah yes, the lamb finally got the name Stew, hahahaha
In the English version, the young lamb is called Hotpot, which is a lamb and potato dish very popular in the north of England. I like that connection between the name and some characteristic of the character, and I try to follow it through all the books.
What do you think are the keys to the success of this series?
I think it's the combination of warmth and humor. It's like a hug in the form of a book that makes you feel safe. When I finish a reading in public everyone sighs, young and old. In fact, hugs are very important throughout the series, and especially in this latest installment, where a character appears who does not want to be hugged.
I really like hugs. I spend the day hugging everyone. They are something fantastic. And in this series we have Stew, who is like a little child, a creature that wants attention. And when someone gives it to him, his response is to give it a hug. These things in small children are endearing. And in fact, the wolf now also loves hugs, something that didn't happen before.
But it has been in Spain where his books have been most successful. What do you think it is due to?
Maybe because of the Spanish mentality, this idea of family, maybe because it is embraced more here. Who knows...
How long will this family continue to grow?
The truth is that I do not know. I've already finished the seventh book, but I don't know how many more there will be. We have seen that the theme tends towards inclusion of everyone and making sure that everyone feels happy and is themselves, even if they are not how other people imagine they should be. It's like stereotypes are turned upside down. I think it's a very important thing to empower children to feel free to be themselves and not what others tell them or think they should be. This is the theme of the series and there is a lot of room to make it grow.
The great temptation of the moralizing message... Are you afraid of falling into that trap?
No, I am aware that that is something I do not want to do, although it can happen. I am clear that I do not want to preach. In the end, it's about making the story work without having to send explicit messages of any kind.
What do your grandchildren think of your stories?
They love them. What happens is that I am worried that they will get too old and stop being interested, because now my oldest grandson is 14 years old and the youngest is five, and I tell them: no, no, don't get older...
What other projects do you have outside of the series?
I have another series I'm writing called Poop at the Zoo, which is now in its fifth book. I also have several with Little Tiger Press, the publisher that publishes The Wolf and the Little Sheep in England. One, for example, about a dog dancing contest… and many more books. I have a really good time and it doesn't really feel like real work.
Before you told us that you had already delivered a new book in the series, who is the protagonist coming to dinner this time?
I can't say much, but I can tell you that it is an elephant that comes to dinner. A very talented elephant.
What are your literary references as a child?
When I was very young, the truth is that I didn't read, because my parents weren't very readers, and it wasn't until I had my library card that I started reading. I liked Dr. Seuss or Roald Dahl and rhymed stories. In fact many of my books are in rhyme. There is something that I really like about the sound of words and I am able to retain poems and advertising songs that rhyme, but then I am unable to remember what my wife has asked me to buy at the supermarket. That's how my brain works. I also really like the gentle humor of Milne, author of Winnie the Pooh.
What do you think of current children's literature?
Now there are so many things! All topics are now covered in children's literature. I tend to be attracted to those that are a little strange, original, and in fact I love going to a bookstore and sitting down to browse books in the children's section.
