Creator Corner: Author Monique Leonardo Carlos

Welcome to Creator Corner, a blog series where we interview the creators of our recent books. For this post, we interviewed It’s Okay, Just Ask author Monique Leonardo Carlos, whose book published October 15, 2024!

Owlkids Books: Monique, why did you begin writing children’s books?

Monique Leonardo Carlos: I’m a long-time collector of children’s books and I always turn to them for help when I’m teaching in the classroom, going through a transition with my own children, or when I have a workshop or seminar to facilitate for adults. I‘ve always thought that children’s books have such a beautiful way of presenting core values, experiences, and themes that may normally be challenging to include in everyday conversations. I wanted to be a part of that: I wanted to be able to contribute to a genre that would allow children and adults to explore themes and have conversations about them so that they may gain a better understanding of themselves, each other, and the world around them.

OKB: What inspired you to write this book?

MLC: It was a mix of different things: our move to Canada from the Philippines, the effects of the pandemic on our communities, and of course, my children. When I wrote this story, the news was filled with stories of what media had come to call as “Asian-hate”. I heard stories of older Asian people being attacked in the streets and my heart filled with sadness and fear. I was scared for the world that my children would be growing up in. We had just moved to Canada then, and I hoped for a world that was safe, kind, and welcoming of all individuals. This story came with the hope of encouraging not only others, but myself and our family to welcome the uncertainties, changes, and differences in our lives in order to embrace and understand them.

OKB: What was the most enjoyable part of bringing this story to life?

MLC: The most enjoyable part was getting to work with my editor Ella, and everyone at Owlkids. As it is my debut book, I wasn’t sure about the process, and I am deeply grateful to Ella for seeing the story for what it is and for making sure that I was part of it every step of the way. Having Salini Perera create the illustrations was also most enjoyable as it brought the story to life. I am most appreciative of the fact that the team at Owlkids was intentional about choosing an illustrator that shared a similar immigration story to myself and my family.

OKB: What was the most challenging part of the process?

MLC: The most challenging part was believing that I was writing something that would really make an impact on others. I have always believed in the power of children’s books and in its ability to teach and move people to have a shared language and understanding. It was a challenge to come to a point where I thought that I had written something that truly had a purpose to fill – not only for myself, but for others as well!

OKB: What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

MLC: There are two main things I hope readers will take away from this book, as I endeavored to write the story to have two purposes. One is for readers to become aware of some of the feelings, challenges, and questions that most immigrants experience and face. Another is for any child or adult to know that it’s okay, just ask.

I truly hope readers will come to realize that the world IS full of things we do not know and understand. People are different from each other and the way we do things isn’t necessarily the same. However, all that difference can be a beautiful thing! Many grow up not knowing how to ask, what to ask, and that it’s okay to ask questions about things they do not understand. They live their lives making choices that are based on misinformation, or a lack thereof. I wish for readers to see just how wonderful life can be once we start feeding the innate curiosity that we have within us.

OKB: What’s an interesting fact people may not know about you?

MLC: Hmmm… when I was in University, I was part of a choir, and I went on a 7-month concert tour to the US, Europe, and New Zealand. I got to see snow for the first time, sleep in a bomb shelter, and perform deep inside a cave, all while representing the Philippines in the field of choral performance.