Three years ago, we first met Scottish author Janice Stewart-Yates and her lovable literary pugs in Peking Pugs. Now, the wait is over: Toby and Princess are back with thrilling new adventures! We caught up with Janice to discuss her latest release, Beijing Bonanza and what inspires these charming canine tales set in Beijing.
What brings you to China?
I came to China 16 years ago, having previously worked in Valencia and Paris. Like many people, I arrived in Beijing with the idea of staying for two years. The inevitable happened: I fell in love with Beijing and instantly felt very much at home here. Even after being in the city for a few weeks, many people got the impression I had lived here for years. I have always worked in education, with over twenty years of experience as a Montessori educator, peace education workshop facilitator, and mentor. I have also worked in leadership roles as chief community liaison and head of wellness and welfare. I have recently started working in an IB school where I continue to grow as an educator and be charmed by this vibrant city.
Where did your idea for this book come from?
The idea for the book came from many people saying, “You should write a travel book about Beijing with the pugs.” I was inspired to create a book to encourage people to visit Beijing in its glory. I wanted it to be interesting for people living in Beijing and to inspire them to take their children to various places in the city. It is also perfect for people traveling to China to know that there are amazing things to do with children or pugs all year round in Beijing.
Who is this book perfect for?
This book is ideal for anyone living in Beijing or planning to visit. It is also suitable for anyone who wants to teach their children about various things to do in this amazing capital. It speaks to children and adults alike on some level. It’s been wonderful to see children and adults shout out enthusiastically during school visits. It’s definitely a book for everyone interested in or connected to Beijing or who wants to connect with such a vibrant city. Many people have reached out to share with me how they have enjoyed connecting with the book through personal experiences. They’ve also told me that they’ve been inspired to visit a place in a different season after reading the book.
How did you select the places mentioned in the book? Are these the real Toby and Princess’ favorite places to go?
Despite what the book says, Toby and Princess are definitely in the autumn of their lives, and Toby, sadly, has a hip problem and can no longer walk. He is happy to hang out on my lap, preferably with a lovely blanket around him, because he is a bit of a lush. Princess loves walking around Chaoyang Park and the Maizidian area.
What was your favorite book growing up as a child?
My favorite book as a child growing up was Each Peach, Pear Plum by Janet and Alan Ahlberg. I loved this book because the illustration at the beginning looks precisely like the farm where I would spend my weekends growing up. I felt an immediate connection to the illustrations. If you’re not familiar with the illustration and the little clues on each page, the detail is still magical today. When I got pregnant with my daughter, this was one of the first books I bought for her because I wanted her to experience the magic of Each Peach, Pear Plum. I loved sharing that story with her as a little girl; even though she’s grown into a bigger girl now, it’s been fun to continue sharing this storybook, and that reflects very well on Beijing Bonanza. I feel the same magic and familiarity in the children I’ve been sharing Beijing Bonanza with. They can see the places they live, and things that they’ve done with their families and friends, and they also have that special connection with the book, which gives them some importance and meaning of their existence and what they’re doing just the same as I had with each plant is a little girl.
Where can parents find a copy?
The books are available worldwide on Amazon, as well as at Barnes and Noble, Walmart, and Costco. I’m also working on a partnership with some gift shops in Beijing. If you are in China in the coming months, it will become available on Dangdang and JD. In the meantime, if you’re in China and would like a copy, I’ve got some copies delivered that I can sign and share.
What was the best part about working on this book? How did you select the places mentioned in the book?
What I loved about creating a story was that I got to reflect on everything I like doing in Beijing. The only tricky part was narrowing it down. I drew four squares and marked the four seasons, and thought about what I love to do each season. I genuinely love Beijing all year long – true story: I even love winter! I also adore my pugs; they’ve been the most excellent companions in Beijing.
Additionally, working with Dilia, who is also an old Beijing resident. Our project was made easier with Dilia’s knowledge of the city and our shared love for the Chinese capital, which is a very important element. I particularly loved her painting for the Chinese New Year. You have to know Chinese culture to paint all those details of the hutong house, the fireworks, hongbaos, and the clementine trees.
I’ve been extremely fortunate with both of my books: Peking Pugs, working with Natasha Vota, and Beijing Bonanza, with Dilia. When we are collaborating, they see what I see, or they see more than I can imagine because whatever they do is 100 times better than I could ever have envisioned. It has been wonderful working with Natasha and Dilia.
What’s your advice for parents when it comes to getting their kids to fall in love with reading?
Getting your children to read is partly about being a reader yourself. As adults, we often want children to do as we say, not as we do. As my daughter has grown older, especially during holidays and travel, we always take a few books to enjoy at the airport, in restaurants, or poolside. We always make time to read and then share what we’re reading. It’s essential for parents to show love and joy when reading with their children; this sets the tone [and shows]that books are fun and a great place to get lost and become engaged. As a teacher, I love celebrating authors’ work in my class, and I love it when students go home and buy the same series they’ve read in class. One of my favorite children’s authors is Gerald McDermott; his folklore series, which spans the world, is magical. They help us connect with other cultures and traditions. Books can do this, as they are living dreams and can ignite corners of our imagination that we can revisit time and time again.
Images: Janice Stewart-Yates
