Interview with Heather Smith, Author of “A Plan for Pops”

What inspired you to write A Plan for Pops?

I wanted to write a picture book that included, in a casual way, a same sex couple. While I wanted one of the underlying themes to be “love is love,” I did not want the same sex relationship to be the focus. Having the grandparents be Grandad and Pops as opposed to Grandma and Grandpa is inconsequential to the story. The story itself is about the grandparent/child relationship, which is a universal theme.

When I sat down to write this book, I didn’t exactly know what the storyline would be – I just started at the beginning (grandparents and grandchild at their weekly Saturday breakfast) and let the story evolve. The only solid idea I had was that the two grandparents would be very different in personality (but also very compatible!) and that the grandchild would learn interesting things from both. I also knew the threesome would face a challenge that they would overcome together.

The fact that Lou has two grandfathers is an accepted truth of the story rather than an active part of the story. What made you choose to represent their relationship in this way?

When my son (age 23) came out at 14, he dealt with many insensitive, hurtful comments. It was very disheartening to hear young people spouting such ignorant views. Since then, I‘ve been trying to make a difference thought my writing. After all, knowledge is the key to change and representation in children’s literature seems a good place to start! In A Plan for Pops, the fact that Lou has two grandfathers is just that – a fact. There’s no need to explain it or justify it – it just “is.” I hope that casual representation like this becomes more and more prevalent in picture books so that young children grow up with a broader view of the world and, in turn, become more accepting of the people around them.

What do you like about writing children’s books versus young adult books? How is the process similar and different?

There is a very special place in my heart for picture books. I have my own collection of favourites that I revisit often. What I love about writing picture books is the challenge of telling a big story in relatively few words. When writing young adult books, I can go hog wild with the text – expanding on ideas, focusing on details. With picture books, I am mindful to leave room for the illustrator. Leaving blanks in the text and wondering how the illustrator will fill them in is all part of the challenge - and fun!

Why did you choose to make Pop’s fall a central part of the story? What does it enable?

The grandparent/grandchild theme of this story is an important one. To show the tightness of the bond I wanted the threesome to face, then overcome, a life-changing event. While intergenerational relationships are often very strong, they can also be somewhat fragile. Watching an elderly relative succumb to an age-related illness or injury can be very difficult for a child. What I wanted to show in A Plan for Pops is that despite the upheaval, uncertainty, and change, a family’s love stays the same.

Why did you choose paper cranes as the big finale of Grandad and Lou’s creation?

I wanted the big finale of Grandad and Lou’s contraption to be fun but I also wanted it to be beautiful. The image of birds’ flying through the room is a magical one, one that evokes a feeling of freedom. Perhaps it was subconscious foreshadowing on my part – because although “Pop’s legs don’t work like they used to,” by the end of the book he’s “flying” to the library with the help of grandchild, Lou.