Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Alma Boucher is talking with Arthur Russell Smith, author of The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail.

FQ: The title The Robe Squad immediately creates a sense of warmth and coziness. How did you come up with the title, and what does the “Robe Squad” represent to you?

SMITH: I love bathrobes and was thinking it’d be fun to come up with a team of people and/or animals that all donned robes when they were together. Additionally, in being a “squad,” they’d represent a team that had intention and objectives, which would be centered on being kind to others, and looking out for those who need help.

FQ: Artie and Gizmo immediately respond when they discover the frightened mouse. What do you hope young readers learn from the way they treat him?

SMITH: Simply, I hope the learn how much good one can do by looking out for the “little guy;” whether it’s another person or an animal, small actions can go a long way in ensuring they are cared for.

FQ: What qualities of Artie and Gizmo do you think make them good role models for young readers?

SMITH: Their friendship, empathy, compassion, and kindness.

FQ: Empathy and kindness are central themes in the story. Why were these particular lessons important for you to introduce to children ages 2–6?

SMITH: Generally speaking, I believe things introduced at a younger age tend to be more “sticky” and so that’s part of it however I’m also a firm believer in the power of empathy and kindness; embracing and practicing these will not just make you a better human, but they’ll help ensure others around you can experience those things too. Lastly, while it’s a bit of a cliché to say the world needs more kindness, I do believe that too and so I’m hoping to help address that, at a very small scale of course 😊

FQ: The story focuses on helping a scared and vulnerable character feel safe and welcome. How did you approach writing about emotions in a way that would be understandable to very young children?

SMITH: This is a great question and admittedly, I think I tried to have the illustrations serve as the foundation for the understanding versus relying on the prose to drive this home; my editor (Ann Koffsky) was instrumental in helping me strike this balance, along with my illustrator (Craig Orback). I’m a visual learner myself and know young children are often in visual learning mode too, so I’m hoping they can appreciate and understand the emotions and stakes through the pictures themselves.

FQ: How involved were you in the visual or illustrative side of the story? Did you have a specific picture of Artie, Gizmo, and the mouse in your mind while writing?

SMITH: Prior to working with Craig, I’d used AI to draft initial images and sketches I wanted to have authentic (i.e., human-generated) illustrations of; thus, I had a vision for what I wanted to portray but needed a real expert to bring them to life. Craig is wonderful at detail but also humanizing the characters, and had a great approach to colors and tones. One specific picture I had in mind which he really brought to life was the three characters together at the end, in the armchair.

FQ: Do you see The Robe Squad as the beginning of a larger series featuring Artie and Gizmo? If so, what adventures might you like them to have next?

SMITH: I do and I’m already working on the second book; it’s tentatively titled The Robe Squad: A Maine Tail, and will involve the characters traveling to Maine, a favorite place of mine, to have another adventure together. I hope that through additional and varied adventures, the squad can demonstrate how powerful kindness can be.

FQ: Were there any challenges involved in keeping the story simple enough for very young readers while still giving it a meaningful message?

SMITH: There were indeed! First, I’d never written a story for young readers so I had to learn what level of text and grammar would be a strong fit with that audience. Additionally, I initially worked up a story using rhyming however pivoted to prose, as I learned that would be one way to help ensure the message came through clearly and simply.

FQ: If you could give parents and caregivers one message about reading The Robe Squad with their children, what would it be?

SMITH: Always lead with kindness.

FQ: What do you hope readers, both children and adults, take away from the story about welcoming someone who may feel alone or different?

SMITH: That leading with empathy and kindness can help to build communities and friendships you might not otherwise have an opportunity to experience. And, it can have a “trickle down” effect among others.

For more information about The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail, please visit the author's website at: arthurrussellsmith.com/

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