Creator Corner: Author Maria Birmingham and Illustrator Catherine Chan

Welcome to Creator Corner, a blog series where we interview the creators of our recent and upcoming books. For this post, we interviewed Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness author Maria Birmingham and illustrator Catherine Chan, whose book published January 27, 2026!

Owlkids Books: Maria, what inspired you to write this book?

Maria Birmingham: I’m a lefty. Though to be honest, I don’t think that much about it until someone notices and comments on it. But I came across an article that looked into whether or not dog and cats are lefties. After reading it, I got to thinking about the science of left-handedness. That’s when I realized there might be an interesting book there.

Owlkids Books: Catherine, what was the inspiration for your illustrations in this book?

Catherine Chan: I was inspired by storytelling that rewards the audience for re-reading. The first time you go through the book, you might not understand or notice why there’s a snail that appears in the introduction chapter. After you read the book, you know that snails also have a “handedness,” which is why it was included in the intro.

OKB: Maria, what was the most enjoyable part of bringing this story to life? What was the most challenging part of the process?

MB: The most enjoyable and challenging parts were the same thing—the research! It was interesting to research and learn about the many facets of left-handedness. But it was daunting to pull together such a variety of ideas to create a cohesive book.

OKB: Catherine, what was the most enjoyable part of illustrating this book? What was the most challenging part?

CC: The most enjoyable part of illustrating this book is seeing it all come together. The design is cohesive, and the characters really feel like they belong together. The most challenging part was researching to make sure the historical characters are depicted accurately.

OKB: Maria and Catherine, what do you hope readers will take away from this book?

MB: I hope readers will think about how they relate to the information in the book. If they’re a lefty, perhaps they’ll learn more about the complexities of their handedness. And if they’re a righty, it may be an opportunity to think about how they approach activities in life. Maybe they use their left hand for something besides writing, like a particular sport. And that might give them a new insight into themselves. Otherwise, perhaps it’ll be a reminder to readers to appreciate others for their unique qualities.

CC: I hope readers challenge the status quo and take fresh perspectives. Left-handed people weren’t always seen in the best light, and we now know differences are not a disadvantage.

OKB: Maria and Catherine, what’s an interesting fact you learned while writing this book?

MB: I learned that one researcher looked into whether the hair whorls (or swirls) on the very top of our head can reveal handedness. His study found that lefties tend to have a 50-50 split—they’re equally likely to have clockwise or counter-clockwise hair whorls. For righties, over 90 percent have a clockwise whorl. Since his research methods used in the study were questioned, his findings weren’t included in the book. But it’s a fun idea to think about!

CC: An interesting fact I learned was that even snails have a preferred side when we look at their shells. How cool is that?

OKB: Maria and Catherine, are you left-handed or right-handed?

MB: I am left-handed. But after writing the book, I realize I’m technically mixed-handed. I switch between my hands for different tasks. While I write with my left, I do almost everything else—like cutting with scissors, using a toothbrush, or throwing—with my right. Even so, I’ll always consider myself a lefty!

CC: I am right-handed when it comes to writing, but left-handed when it comes to racket sports and throwing a ball. It really makes me think if I was specifically taught to use my right hand to write as a child.

OKB: Maria and Catherine, what’s an interesting fact people may not know about you?

MB: I live in a house that’s nearly 150 years old. It’s got lots of quirks and not a lot of closet space, but it’s home.

CC: People normally catch and throw with opposite hands. However, I do both with my left hand, which makes it tricky when I have to play baseball with a glove!

Thank you so much Maria and Catherine for taking the time to do this interview and creating a wonderful book! We hope readers enjoy Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness as much as we did!

Grab your copy today!