RAR #99: Meet Lola Dutch (she is just too much!)
Lola Dutch is a little bit … much. And yet, she’s also like so many of us. I think you’re just going to love her! Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Lola Dutch creators Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How Lola came to be
- Why so many of us seem to identify with her
- What this book means for instilling creative courage in our kids
Click the play button below:
Listener Guide
Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast:
- 2:16 Don’t miss this dust jacket
- 6:32 Meet the Wrights
- 8:58 Collaborating on Lola
- 10:56 Lola’s companions
- 13:15 Giving kids creative courage
- 14:44 A series!
- 19:16 First experiences
- 20:33 The process of making a book
- 24:17 Naming Lola
- 25:46 Julia Child
- 27:28 Book surprises
- 31:15 Let the kids speak
Links from this episode:
- loladutch.com
- FREE Lola Dutch printables and resources
- Sarah Jane Studios
- Lola Dutch Creativity Kit
- Order The Read-Aloud Family now anywhere books are sold
Quotes to remember:
“Kids, when they’re small, tend to just want to try new things. If parents just get out of the way and give them the encouragement, they’ll do that of their own volition. We notice that as they get a little older, some kids lose a little bit of that drive, so Lola Dutch, in some ways, was made to give encouragement and a pat on the back to the kids that are still enthusiastic, still on fire, and still curious about the world.“
“When you create from a real, authentic, honest place, that’s usually when you’re going to get the most universal appeal, and that’s the irony— you feel like you’re creating something so specific … I was surprised by how many people said, ‘I’m Lola Dutch,’ because when we wrote it I was Lola Dutch, you know?”
“We all feel a little more like each other and it’s always helpful for us to find familiar and similar things in each other because it helps us love each other a little more.“
Books from this episode:
(All links are affiliate links.)
I haven’t had the chance to read Lola Dutch yet, but now I really really want to! I’m sure my daughter would get a lot out of this book – sounds just like her. :) Thank you for continuing to recommend so many fantastic books that I’ve never even heard, even though I’ve been a voracious reader since my childhood, especially great new books coming out, that I might have been otherwise skeptical to try (the whole, older is better, haha).
We’ve loved Sarah Jane’s work for a long time. In fact, we have a Lola print plus many other of her art prints in our four girls’ bedroom. I love how they wrote a book about my own four girls! Love this one, Sarah!
I LOVE this podcast! Sarah, it is always so fun to hear these inspiring conversations you have with such amazing authors and illustrators-world changers really! You always seem to ask the questions I’d like to ask and your love of life, family and stories comes across so clearly. Thank you again and again!
Kenneth and Sarah Jane, this book looks just wonderful! Lola belongs in our home! I haven’t had the pleasure of reading it to my children (8 and 9 years old) yet, but I know she’ll inspire them to continue to be creative in their (VERY) different ways. I just love that you’ve brought this character to life to inspire and encourage us all to be a little more creative, hold onto a little more imagination, to live in wonder about our world, and to not be afraid to get a little more messy in the process (which is inevitable and half the fun! haha!). I hope we get to enjoy many more adventures with Lola as you continue to write out her story. Do you know if there will be a Spanish or Bilingual possibility in the future for your books? We are a bilingual family and love to read our favorite stories in both languages. I think it would be amazing!
Blessings to you all!
-Nicole
This is awesome! I have known about Sarah Jane for a while because I was sewing regularly for my two girls when her fabric designs first came on the quilting and boutique sewing scene. I have loved her fabrics and art for years. My daughter’s room is even decorated with her nautical/beach themed collections from a few years back. It’s pretty cool to see two passions intersecting here.
Genius! Love the different ideas for using old dust jackets. I’ve thought of using them as framed art prints (Peter Spier’s Noah Ark and others). Excited to check out Lola this week at the library.
I loved this podcast. I have five girls who are all Lola’s. I can’t wait to read this book!