Author Interview: Ame Dyckman

This month, we’re delighted to welcome Ame Dyckman to our Author Interview series! Ame is a New York Times bestselling, award-​winning author renowned for her humorous and heartwarming picture books. She burst onto the scene with her debut Boy + Bot (2012), a charming tale of friendship between a boy and a robot. She continued to captivate young readers with Tea Party Rules (2013), Wolfie the Bunny (2015), and Horrible Bear! (2016). Ame’s witty storytelling shines in You Don’t Want a Unicorn! (2017) and its sequel You Don’t Want a Dragon! (2020). Her recent works include Dandy (2019), That’s Life! (2020), How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide (2023), Don’t Blow Your Top! (2023), Campingland (2024), Silly Boobies: A Love Story (2024), and others.

Residing in New Jersey with her family and a yard full of wild critters that often inspire her stories, Ame is known for her energetic and goofy personality. We’re excited to chat with her about her writing journey, the picture book industry, and the creative process behind her enchanting stories.


RVC: You’ve got a name that is potentially mis-​pronounceable. Help us out, please! (This is coming from “Ryan Cleave,” “G. Van,” Van Cleave,” “Dr. GCleaveRyan,” and a host of other almost-​there-​but-​not-​quite ones!)

AD: Hi, Ryan! Thanks for the terrific intro, and thanks for having me! “Ame” is pronounced just like “Amy,” but it’s spelled differently ’cause… I’m actually an Amelia—like the Amelia Bedelia books! And “Dyckman” rhymes with “Bikeman.” (My Husband Guy’s ancestors were Dutch. Dunno if they sold bikes, but it they did, I hope one was known as Dyckman the Bikeman! Ha!)

RVC: Hah indeed–thanks for the clarifications. Now, please share how you first became interested in writing children’s picture books.

AD: As a kid, I thought about becoming a writer, but grown-​ups said, “You’ll starve!” Starving sounded uncomfortable, so I pursued other employment. But when I worked as teacher, and after my own kiddo was born, I realized reading picture books together is the best thing ever, and I wanted to be a picture book author! But I didn’t know how. So I asked my smartest friend, “How do I learn to write for kids and get published?” And Google said: “Join SCBWI!” (Society of Book Writers and Illustrators.) I did. And it worked!

RVC: SCBWI is the path taken by so, so many authors I interview here. I’m glad it worked for you, too. Tell us the story behind your first published picture book.

AD: I’ve always loved friendship-​despite-​difference stories—and robots. So I squished these two loves together in my first book, Boy + Bot. I pitched it to Super Agent Scott Treimel at a “Pitch The Agent” session at a SCBWI conference, and that was the start of everything! Together, we’ve sold 36 kidlit titles—and counting!

RVC: What’s the best lesson that book taught you?

AD: Boy + Bot taught me a lot about Big Picture Messages in books. When I wrote it, I wasn’t consciously thinking about Big Picture Messages—I thought I was just writing a friendship story! But once it was published, I heard from lots of folks who enjoyed my book in part ’cause they saw different Big Picture Messages and topics in it: inclusivity, kindness, caretaking, STEM, etc. It made me realize first-​hand how multi-​layered picture books can be, and now I absolutely consider Big Picture Messages when I write!

RVC: Some readers and writers don’t realize that the final picture book text is often missing things that were there earlier in the process. What’s something fun that didn’t make the final cut with this book?

AD: Word about words! There’s often lots of text that gets cut during Revisions, and again when you get sketches and the art shows what you no longer need to tell. Boy + Bot was a really tight text from the start—just 150ish words or so—but with other books I’ve cut multiple pages, “killed” characters entirely (sorry, darlings!), and dramatically shortened narratives and dialogue. I actually love Revisions, especially after sketches, ’cause that’s when things get really collaborative with the editor, illustrator, art director and/​or designer, and copywriter. When everyone’s brainstorming together to make the very best book we can? Nothing beats that!

RVC: Please walk us through your writing process. How do you go from an initial idea to a finished manuscript?

AD: Coffee! And I’m constantly jotting down ideas for stories—on my phone, napkins… even my arm! (“Oh, no! I just washed my plot!”)

RVC: HAH!

AD: And then I wait for characters to speak to me. Sometimes this happens immediately, but sometimes it takes years before I feel who a character is, how they sound, and what they say and do. (One of my latest projects, the Bat, Cat & Rat series with the legendary Mark Teague, took over a decade before the first book, The Cozy Home, was published!) After all this simmering, once characters “click,” I’m itching to write their story! Things usually move pretty quickly from there. For picture books, lately this means two weeks of drafting and reading dialogue aloud. (Walk by my house and you will hear voices! Ha!) Then I’ll carry the printed story around for another week or two, scribbling on it and making small tweaks, followed by a few days of “Am I ready to send?!” before I actually hit Send. Then my agent and I chat about it and who we want to send it to, I make more coffee… and repeat!

RVC: How does your everyday life and the “wacky wild critters” in your yard inspire your stories?

AD: Little bits of my Real Life definitely show up in my writing! (Like in the upcoming Bat, Cat & Rat #3: The Beach Day, when Bat tries to share his snack with hungry gulls—and it goes terribly wrong! This actually happened to me!) Almost all my book characters are autobiographical or based on someone in my family—or our “tenants.” We’ve had bunnies, deer, groundhogs, squirrels, birds, skunks, etc. make themselves a little-too-comfortable in our yard and shed, and on our deck and porch. (And that “etc.” includes a fox who’d come running every time we ordered rotisserie chicken! We had to tip our driver extra!) But watching lots of different animals—at a park, a zoo, or right at home—and imagining what they’d talk about is one of the best ways to practice writing funny picture book dialogue, and what I “hear” these furred-​or-​feathered goofballs say often shows up in my books.

RVC: How has your writing process evolved since your first books were published?

AD: Starting with You Don’t Want a Unicorn! (with the phenomenal Liz Climo), I started mapping out the layouts for my books—page turns, etc.—right at my first draft stage. Of course these layouts aren’t written in stone, and we often make layout changes along the way, but thinking about what could go on each picture book page from the very start has, I think, made “awww” moments resonate better and jokes “hit” funnier!

RVC: Your books are known for their humor and goofiness. How do you tap into that playful side when writing for children?

AD: Kids are humorous and goofy—and there’s no such thing as “too silly!” to a kid. So when I write for kids, I try to remember that. (And then I get to be a kid again, too!)

RVC: Here’s a critter story (which I hope isn’t from your backyard!). Misunderstood Shark flips the script on the typical shark stereotype. What’s the funniest misconception about sharks you’ve come across, and how did you incorporate humor into debunking these myths in your book?

AD: Making the Misunderstood Shark books (Misunderstood Shark and our “sequel,” Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don’t Eat Friends) with the spectacular Scott Magoon was a riot! We loved showing that sharks really aren’t interested in eating people. (Like when our Shark smells a drop of blood in the water, races towards the beachgoers, bursts out of the water—and offers “boo-​boo strips!” instead.) And my favorite “Fun Fact” we included is that a person is thousands of times more likely to be bitten by another person than bitten by a shark! (You should’ve seen all the little hands shoot up in the air at school visits when I asked who’d ever been bitten by a classmate! Ha!)

RVC: Let’s take a recent case study, like Silly Boobies: A Love Story. Give me the story pitch please!

AD: Silly Boobies: A Love Story is The Sneetches meets Romeo and Juliet meets modern politics meets Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom!

RVC: Wow, what a logline. Love it.

AD: In Silly Boobies (brilliantly-​illustrated by the brilliant illustrator/​political cartoonist Christopher Weyant), red-​footed boobies and blue-​footed boobies are pretty similar—but they each think they’re the superior boobies! Until a young female red-​footed booby and a young male blue-​footed booby (the book readers in their groups, naturally) meet and fall in love. Their families don’t approve, but they get married anyway—and then, something truly beautiful happens!

RVC: I’ve read the (many) reviews, so I know what readers like. But what do YOU like most about this book?

AD: I love that Silly Boobies: A Love Story shows that even set-​in-​their-​ways people can change and embrace difference, and I love that we got to include real facts about all the real kinds of boobies in the back of our book. (Like that the collective noun for a group of boobies is “a Congress!” I was rolling on the floor when I learned that one! Ha!)

RVC: You’ve mentioned that you prefer writing over creating a fancy website. How important is it for authors to focus on their craft versus self-promotion?

AD: It’s so easy to get stuck on the self-​promo treadmill—it can become a career in itself! (At various times I was doing a blog, too much social media, every print and online interview that asked, bookstore visits, book festivals, virtual school-​visits, in-​person school visits, SCBWI volunteering and presenting at conferences and events, and producing/​printing/​packaging/​shipping many, many tens-​of-​thousands of “swag” items: bookmarks, stickers, buttons, bracelets, squishies, mini Frisbees, etc.! Whew!) But when the world paused during the Pandemic, I paused, too! I looked at all my book ideas and works-​in-​progress and realized if I couldn’t successfully clone myself—which hadn’t gone well—that I’d better write more and self-​promote less. Now I just do the promo opportunities I really want to do—like this one! And since adopting my write more/​promote less philosophy, the number of new books I’ve written/we’ve sold has skyrocketed! (And if you see a vaguely-​Ame-​shaped creature roaming New Jersey… that’s just your imagination!)

RVC: I’ll have to keep an eye out for that vaguely-​Ame-​shaped creature! Now, how has social media influenced your interaction with readers and the promotion of your books?

AD: I’ve “met” and even met so many super-nice readers thanks to social media! And social media is excellent for sharing new book news, doing giveaways, and just letting folks get to know the person behind the books. My favorite thing when I meet someone in Real Life that I know from social media is when they say, “You talk just like you post, and you post just like you talk!” Ha!

RVC: Does your often-​funny social media voice influence your funny kidlit writing? How so?

AD: Thank you! And… sometimes! Sometimes I’ll post an idea or a little poem. Sometimes these will go on to become a story idea, or illustrators will illustrate these posts just for fun. (I love when this happens!) And sometimes-sometimes, I get to then actually work with one of my illustrator-​pals-​I-​met-​via-​social-​media on actual books! (Like the fantastic Charles Santoso of Dandy and the fantastic James Burks of Campingland and the fantastic Elio of the Monster Og series!) Publishing works in mysterious ways!

RVC: With so many books published and more on the way, how do you stay inspired and avoid burnout?

AD: I read! Reading what other folks have created is the Ultimate Collective Brain Hug and boost!

RVC: One last question for this part of the interview. What’s next for you? Can you share any upcoming projects or books you’re especially excited about?

AD: For 2025, Duckie & Snaps #1: We Cannot Be Friends with the genius Tim Miller pubs in February. Bat, Cat & Rat #3: The Beach Day pubs in April. Bat, Cat & Rat #4: A Great Fall pubs in July. In 2026, there’s Duckie & Snaps #2: We Cannot Be Brave in the Spring, and the rest of the year will see two more Monster Og Ready-​To-​Read titles, two more Bat, Cat & Rat books, and I believe a total of three stand-​alone picture books so far, including the just-announced To The Actual Moon And Back with the dynamic duo of Dan & Jason in the Fall! We’re gonna need a bigger coffee!

RVC: Okay, Ame…now it’s time for you to bring out your speedy wit. It’s the ZIPPY SKIPPY SUPER ZOOM SPEED ROUND! Quick-​ish questions and blazingly brisk answers please. Are you ready?

AD: Ready!

RVC: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

AD: Multiplication! (Of me, I mean. Not like, 9 x 13. Which is…) Okay, next question!

RVC: What’s your go-​to karaōke song?

AD: “Little Room” by The White Stripes.

RVC: Favorite pun or dad joke?

AD: What kind of cheese isn’t yours? Nacho cheese!

RVC: If you want to LOL with a picture book, name a book you’re likely to pull from your shelves.

AD: I’d Really Like To Eat A Child by Sylviane Donnio, illustrated by Dorothée de Monfreid. (Kids who see you reading it run away so fast!)

RVC: If you could give your younger self one piece of picture-​book advice, what would it be?

AD: Create more, promote (and worry) less!

RVC: What are you most grateful for in your career?

AD: Coffee—I mean, my family, agent, editors, and readers! Truly.

RVC: Thanks so much, Ame!

AD: Thanks again for having me, Ryan! This was fun!

Picture Book List: 16 Books About Classic Halloween Monsters

My dad’s been busy with some book deadlines, and I like spooky things, so I offered to help out with this month’s Bonus Goody.

Enjoy the list of spooktacular picture books!


Bonaparte Falls Apart by Margery Cuyler, Illustrated by Will Terry (August 2020)

From Goodreads: “‘Bonaparte is having a tough time. It’s hard for this young skeleton to just hang loose when he can’t keep hold of himself. When he plays catch, his throwing arm literally takes a flyer. Eating lunch can be a real jaw-​dropping occasion. How can he start school when he has so many screws loose? Luckily, Bonaparte hit the bone-​anza when it came to his friends. Franky Stein, Black Widow, and Mummicula all have some boneheaded ideas to help pull him together. But will it be enough to boost his confidence and get him ready for the first day of school?”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 3–6


Cinderella Skeleton by Robert D. San Souci, Illustrated by David Catrow (September 2004)

From Goodreads: “‘This ghoulish gal will steal your heart–just like she stole Prince Charnel’s!

Poor Cinderella Skeleton! Her evil stepsisters treat her with scorn and work her from dawn till dusk. But when Prince Charnel hosts his famous Halloween Ball, Cindy finally gets her chance to shine. With the help of a good witch, Cinderella Skeleton is transformed into the belle of the ball and steals the
prince’s heart. Then just as the sun peeks over the horizon, she must dash away! Will Prince Charnel ever find his true love again?

Master storyteller Robert D. San Souci and award-​winning illustrator David Catrow have dreamed up a hilarious fractured fairy tale about the most dreadful darling you’ve ever seen.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 4–8


First Broom by Kallie George, Illustrated by Joelle Murray (June 2022)

From Goodreads: “‘Little witch is so excited by her new present for Halloween night — a new broom! But learning to fly a broom is harder than you think, especially when you’re just a little witch. Will witch and broom learn how to work together to fly up high in the sky? A sweet and silly rhyming story full of gentle Halloween fun!”

Pages: 24
Reading Age: 3–5


Hardly Haunted by Jessie Sima (July 2021)

From Goodreads: “‘From the bestselling creator of Not Quite Narwhal comes a delightfully spooky story about an old house who wants to be a home…even if her new family isn’t what she expected.

House has a problem.

She’s a little spooky. She’s a little cobwebby. Oh, no! What if she’s haunted?

She’s not sure, but…her hinges creak. Her pipes bang. And on windy days, the branches scritch-​scratch at her windows. She tries to hold her breath and be as still as possible. If she’s on her best behavior, maybe a family will move in.

How will House ever find a family that doesn’t mind being haunted?”

Pages: 48
Reading Age: 2–6


How Spider Saved Halloween by Robert Kraus (January 1988)

From Goodreads: “‘As Halloween draws near, poor Spider cannot find a costume, but Ladybug and Fly help him remedy the situation, and save the day.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 6–8


I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll, Illustrated by Howard McWilliam (July 2019)

From Goodreads: “‘A unique monster-​under-​the-​bed story with the perfect balance of giggles and shivers, this picture book relies on the power of humor over fear, appeals to a child’s love for creatures both alarming and absurd, and glorifies the scope of a child’s imagination. One night, when Ethan checks under his bed for his monster, Gabe, he finds a note from him instead: “Gone fishing. Back in a week.” Ethan knows that without Gabe’s familiar nightly scares he doesn’t stand a chance of getting to sleep, so Ethan interviews potential substitutes to see if they’ve got the right equipment for the job—pointy teeth, sharp claws, and a long tail—but none of them proves scary enough for Ethan. When Gabe returns sooner than expected from his fishing trip, Ethan is thrilled. It turns out that Gabe didn’t enjoy fishing because the fish scared too easily.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–6


The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason, Illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler (September 2020)

From Goodreads: “When you’re a quilt instead of a sheet, being a ghost isn’t easy! But one Halloween day, everything changes. The little ghost who was a quilt embarks on an adventure that no other ghost can experience… And what if it’s okay to be different?”

Pages: 48
Reading Age: 3–7


The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen (July 2020)

From Goodreads: “‘Ollie and her cat Pumpkin are out frolicking on a beautiful fall day when they come upon a tiny kitten shivering in a pile of fallen leaves. Ollie warms the kitten up and the three become fast friends, but when Ollie sees “Lost Kitten” posters hanging on the trees in the forest, she knows she has to help her new friend get home. As Halloween draws nearer, magic is afoot, and Ollie’s good deed is rewarded in an unexpected way.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–4


Moldilocks and the Three Scares: A Zombie Tale by Lynne Marie, Illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (March 1998)

From Goodreads: “‘A fun, shivery take on a favorite fairy tale! 

Forget Goldilocks and the three bears—MOLDILOCKS and the THREE SCARES are here, in a delightfully zombie-​tastic new version of the popular story. Papa Scare (a monster), Mama Scare (a mummy), and Baby Scare (a vampire) live in a haunted house where they eat finger sandwiches and alpha-​bat soup. One night, they go out to walk their dog (a bloodhound, of course) to let their soup cool down. While they’re away, in walks the zombie Moldilocks, looking for food, a chair, and a bed that’s just right. Kids will love this hauntingly funny story with its surprise ending!”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 3–7


Peanut Butter & Brains: A Zombie Culinary Tale by Joe McGee, Illustrated by Charles Santoso (August 2015)

From Goodreads: “‘Reginald isn’t like the other zombies who shuffle through Quirkville, scaring the townspeople and moaning for BRAINSSSSS! The only thing Reginald’s stomach rumbles for is sticky peanut butter and sweet jelly. He tries to tell his zombie pals that there’s more to life than eating brains, but they’re just not interested. Will Reginald find a way to bring peace to Quirkville and convince the other zombies that there’s nothing better than peanut butter and jelly?”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–8


Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler (August 2001)

From Goodreads: “‘This fun family read-​aloud i s the perfect way to start Halloween celebrations and an ideal gift book. A sweet story of quick wits, friendship, and inclusivity from the creators of The Gruffalo!

The witch and her cat are happily flying through the sky on a broomstick when the wind picks up and blows away the witch’s hat, then her bow, and then her wand!  Luckily, three helpful animals find the missing items, and all they want in return is a ride on the broom.  But is there room on the broom for so many friends?  And when disaster strikes, will they be able to save the witch from a hungry dragon?”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–5


Sir Simon: Super Scarer by Cale Atkinson (August 2022)

From Goodreads: “‘A delightful, funny story of friendship, ghost chores, a spooky house and a professional haunter.

Meet Sir Simon, Super Scarer. He’s a professional ghost who has been transferred to his first house. And just in time! He was getting tired of haunting bus stops and forests and potatoes. And to top it off, this house is occupied by an old lady — they’re the easiest to haunt!

But things don’t go as planned when it turns out a KID comes with this old lady. Chester spots Simon immediately and peppers him with questions. Simon is exasperated… until he realizes he can trick Chester into doing his ghost chores. Spooky sounds, footsteps in the attic, creaks on the stairs — these things don’t happen on their own, you know!

After a long night of haunting, it seems that maybe Chester isn’t cut out to be a ghost, so Simon decides to help with Chester’s human chores. Turns out Simon isn’t cut out for human chores either.

But maybe they’re both cut out to be friends …”

Pages: 48
Reading Age: 4–7


Trick or Treat, Crankenstein by Samantha Berger, Illustrated by Dan Santat (August 2021)

From Goodreads: “‘What we have here is a bad case of stripes. One of the worst I’ve ever seen!’ Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them. Why? Because the other kids in her school don’t like them. And Camilla Cream is very, very worried about what other people think of her. In fact, she’s so worried that she’s about to break out in…a bad case of stripes!”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 4–8


Vampenguin by Lucy Ruth Cummins (July 2021)

From Goodreads: “‘On a Saturday morning, baby Dracula visits the zoo with his family, where baby Penguin lives with hers. But these intrepid young adventurers are not content with staying in their proper places.

Instead, baby Dracula slips into the Penguin House to spend the day eating, swimming, and hanging around, while baby Penguin waddles into the stroller to explore the rest of the zoo. Dracula’s family doesn’t even notice the switch—will they bring the right baby home?

Observant and adventurous young readers will love this tale of the shenanigans that happen when parents’ backs are turned.”

Pages: 48
Reading Age: 4–8


Vampirina Ballerina‑A Vampirina Ballerina Book by Anne Marie Pace (August 2012)

From Goodreads: “‘Oh, to be a ballerina! It’s a challenge for any little girl, but even more so if you happen to be a vampire like Vampirina. First of all, you have to find a class that meets at night. Then you have to figure out how to perfect your form when you can’t see yourself in the mirror? And then there’s wearing pink (not the most flattering of colors if you happen to be undead) and that nagging urge to take a little nip out of the other dancers. And worse of all STAGE FRIGHT!!!”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 2–7


Where’s My Mummy? by Carolyn Crimi, Illustrated by John Manders (July 2009)

From Goodreads: “‘Little Baby Mummy wants just one more game of hide-​and-​shriek with Big Mama Mummy before bedtime. The night is deep and dark, full of friendly creatures that click their clacky teeth and whoosh past on flippy-​floppy wings. But who will comfort Little Baby Mummy if a small, scritchy-​scratchy someone gives him a scare? Big Mama Mummy, of course! Fresh, comical illustrations complement this ever-​so-​slightly suspenseful story with a satisfying ending.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–6