To help celebrate Jane Yolen’s 400th published book–what an amazing accomplishment!–I felt the need to do more than just review it at OPB. Thus, we have this bonus goody that’s just for you!
I asked Jane and Jen four questions each, and with the productivity and generosity that Jane is so well known for, she offered an original poem, too. Enjoy!
Questions for Jane
RVC: Why is Bear Outside a good book to be #400?
JY: Because it is typical of my picture book style–lyrical, strong young girl who solves a problem, and has a kicker last line.
RVC: What was most surprising about the hubbub around #400?
JY: That I seem to be the most surprised person of all!
Heidi (my daughter and PA) had been counting the books because when I hit 365 we had a big party at the Eric Carle Museum with teachers, librarians, editors, friends, etc. But I thought as I was just reaching my 80s, I would slow down. But a little over three years later, it was clear I was going to hit 400.
RVC: What’s something readers wouldn’t guess about the girl in this story?
JY: She is me in a way, though instead of a bear, I look out through the eyes of story and it emboldens me.
RVC: Your favorite image from the book?
JY: I think the very last page, when they are quiet, and instead of a child hugging a toy bear to keep herself safe from night frights, the bear is hugging the girl.
Questions for Jen
RVC: Why is Bear Outside a good book to be #400?
JC: Bear Outside is the result of so many things I never saw coming or anything I could have conceived of when I started my career in illustration. I had worked on bits and pieces here and there, and I got my foot into the door with Little Pea, but it wasn’t until I started creating bodies of work for gallery shows that I really started to develop a visual voice that felt true to me. It has always been a symbiotic relationship, bringing what I learned creating pieces for galleries into book work and bringing the narrative structure of book work back into paintings made for gallery shows.
If you had told 2007 me that this piece of my career would become part of someone else’s artistic milestone, let alone Jane Yolen’s artistic milestone, I would have calmly told you to get off of my lawn. But it is. It exists, it’s here, and it’s an incalculable honor. To have something put out into the world be seen and understood by someone and then be moved to write a story that respects the core of the image with spare, perfect words? It gives me too many feelings.
For me it’s not a good book to be #400. It’s the PERFECT book to be #400.
RVC: What was most surprising about the hubbub around #400 for Jane?
JC: When I received the manuscript for Bear Outside, I wasn’t told that it would be Jane’s 400th book. I didn’t even know until recently. So it’s all a wonderful surprise. I muddled through my own brain and ideas for so long–it’s a real crock pot of a brain. It makes me wonder what it’s like to have a brain that is all “go go go” while also creating beautiful, meaningful stories. It’s awe inspiring.
RVC: What’s something readers wouldn’t guess about Bear?
JC: Probably that Bear is a Taurus sun with a Sagittarius moon.
RVC: Your favorite line from the text?
JC: “I take care of Bear and Bear takes care of me.”
It’s the perfect distillation of the relationship between Girl and Bear. It’s ideally the relationship we should have in others.
Hugging the Bear
At night, in the dark,
he snores and grumbles.
Sometimes he whimpers.
Then I curl around him.
I am here, Bear, I whisper.
Day will come soon enough.
Wear me like a suit of armor.
Hold me like a sword of fire.
Tell my story over and over
till all night fears go away.
And his mumbles and whimpers
fade into the dawn.
©2021 Jane Yolen all rights reserved
Thank you for this insightful interview. I love Jane Yolen’s work; in fact, as an emerging picture book writer, I want to be just like her when I grow up. Another book on the weekly list to read.
Jane’s a treasure–no doubt about it.
Thanks for stopping by OPB, Valerie! Come by again anytime.
Here’s a small insight into the poem, Ryan–you may have guessed it because you know me personally, but others might miss it. In the book, Bear is female. In the poem, male. Why? Because it is an adult poem, and I am a year and a half into a new marriage with my Old Bear. We dated 63 years ago in college, both had solid, wonderful love-filled marriages until the deaths of our spouses. We re-met years later, dated for a very short time, and decided this was it for the rest of our lives. My new Bear is Peter.
Thanks so much for the bonus meaning of the poem, which is lovely even without that touching deeper level. You’re the best, Jane!