Interview with author Michelle Sinclair Colman:
The city babies in your books are very sophisticated. What prompted you to write board books that would speak to urban moms?
I was living in downtown Chicago when I was pregnant with my first son. One day my husband and I went to a one-year-old birthday party in a suburb where every house and everybody looked the same. As we left, I turned to my husband and asked, “urban babies can wear black, can’t they?” And that’s how it began.
The book operates on two levels. The text is literal and the illustrations provide the twist. On one level, I wrote a book about life with an urban baby. The other level is tongue-in-cheek. Yes, urban moms really do take their kids to yoga classes but all babies do “yoga” because they’re all so flexible and can lift their feet above their heads.
Nathalie Dion illustrates all the urban baby books. How did you guys meet and start your artistic collaboration?
I’ve never met Nathalie! When Tricycle signed me on we discussed what style I was looking for in an illustrator. My editor sent me portfolios of different illustrators and would ask my opinion. The minute I saw Nathalie’s work, I knew she was the one! I can’t wait to meet her someday.