A Q&A interview with Laura Henry-Allain

Laura Henry-Allain MBE is an award-winning international producer, storyteller, educationalist and consultant. She is the creator of the well-loved JoJo and Gran Gran characters, developed and produced by CBeebies and is the series’ associate producer. She is also a successful author with non-fiction and picture books to her name. The most recent of these, Maya and Marley and the New Friend is out now.

You’ve got an extremely impressive CV. What is it that drew you to writing picture books. Why are they so important?

I have had nearly 40 years’ experience of working within Early Years education, in several roles.

In 2009, my beloved grandmother, Marie Helene, died at the age of 101. While grieving, I remembered all the lovely stories she shared with me recalling moments when I was a child, which brought some comfort. I reflected and thought that due to my expertise in Early Years, maybe children would love to hear stories about a little girl and her grandmother. I wrote the book and had to think of a title; my middle name is Josephine, hence JoJo, therefore I am JoJo, of JoJo and Gran Gran.

Picture books are so important as they invite children into a world of stories, which takes them to different places and situations and expands their critical thinking.

What are the first books you remember reading or having read to you as a child? What made them memorable?

I remember the Enid Blyton books, including The Famous Five, although I know they have been edited to make sure that they are not discriminatory, outdated or contain any offensive language. I remember it was the four children (and their dog!) having adventures, no adults, just themselves. That said, on reflection, there were no diverse books that I read as a child, hence the importance of books with characters like Maya and Marley.

How did the idea for the Maya and Marley stories come about? Did you always plan that there would be more than one book about them?

My editor at the time at Ladybird Books, Lou, and I discussed a brother and a sister as characters for a new children’s book.

I reflected on my childhood spent at Hornimans Adventure Playground in London, W10. How free I was as a child playing, with no rules set by adults, no health and safety, this was the 1970s and early 1980s! We even had a goat and a sheep, and we cooked on open fires. In the Maya and Marley books we also have two goats, Lou and Chou.

The playworkers from the time attended the launch of the first book, which we held in Hornimans, and one of them remarked that her child was the only one who had an accident, which is remarkable.

In the Maya and Marley books, we see them being the directors of their own play and their world in Grove Adventure Playground, the fictious name of the playground in the book.

Yes, two books were initially commissioned by Ladybird Books.

When you are writing them, what do you consider to be the most important thing about them – e.g. do you have a kind of checklist for a successful picture book?

I have worked in Early Years for many years, I am a parent, and also someone who has always loved children’s books, so I know how the rhythm and the flow of a children’s book works. I know as well how important the illustrator is in bringing the author’s words alive. Yabaewah Scott, the illustrator of Maya and Marley has done an excellent job.

I am dyslexic as well and I sometimes start with the ending and work backwards. I have notes on what I want to include, as well as whether the challenges and solutions etc. make sense.

What other themes would you like to cover in these stories? Might they transfer to the screen one day?

I have so many, especially festivals and celebrations. There is a real lack of Black UK books that cover this; we have many from the USA, but they are not UK specific. Maya and Marley have so many adventures that I have already written notes for around six more books in the series!

Yes, please for a TV show or film for Maya and Marley, this would be perfect!

It’s the National Year of Reading. What advice would or do you give to someone who wants to encourage a love of reading in their child but is unsure where to start?

I am one of the ambassadors for the National Year of Reading and have always been super passionate about reading for every child irrespective of their background.

Depending on the child’s age, stage and ability, maybe focus on what they are interested in and suggest non-fiction as well as fiction books. Also, make good use of libraries, if possible, and invite children to explore diverse books with a range of characters and situations.

What makes you positive for the future and for children’s futures in particular?

Despite the use of AI, I am optimistic that books created by authors and illustrators will always be favoured by the reader.

I am super excited to see that Patrice Lawrence is the new Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate; I know she has a strong stance on social justice that will be central to her term.

Maya and Marley and the New Friend by Laura Henry-Allain, illustrated by Yabaewah Scott is out now, 978-0241624067, £7.99pbk.