You know when you see a book that’s a game changer for an author you’ve been following? Well, I’m convinced that THIS is that book for Brooke.

Brooke Hartman has visited my blog several times over the last few years.  I have known and worked with her locally for years now as well, and it’s always a thrill to see a fellow Alaskan breaking into print like this.  Brooke sometimes writes about Alaskan topics and sometimes not.  Her many interests lead to the most interesting picture books.  She has two wonderful daughters and an amazing husband who support her in what she does.  And I’m sure her dog does too.  You can learn more about her at her website, or follow her on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

CUTE ANIMALS THAT COULD KILL YOU DEAD is a really fun nonfiction take on cuddly killer animals. One minute you’re learning about how adorable they are, but when you turn the page, they turn on you too! These charming critters aren’t necessarily vicious to humans (though some could be), but every single one is a predator in surprising ways. What makes this book amusing are the rating scales, punny jokes, and amazing illustrations (among so many other things). I’ve even seen character cards as marketing materials from the publisher! This book is an absolutely brilliant and succinct way to teach young readers about the danger that lurks behind those big brown eyes.

Welcome back Brooke!

Me: I love all the nonfiction facts you’ve packed into this book about cute animals that can kill you. What gave you the idea?

Brooke: Thanks, Jena! And as a fellow Alaskan, you won’t be surprised by this answer; I was inspired by all the “cute” animals we’re surrounded by in this wild state. Moose, bears, porcupines, otters, foxes—all absolutely adorable until you realize their big eyes are for nabbing nighttime snacks, and those furry paws are to sneak up on prey, and don’t forget all the teeth hiding behind those playful “smiles!”

Me: I find it interesting that these 17 animals are all ones that have been popular on social media or in movies the last few years. Did pop culture help inspire you?

Brooke: Most of that is sheer coincidence, but I will say my kids have been bringing home some amazing nonfiction books over the last few years that are loaded with animal facts about creatures I never even knew existed. Sea bunnies, tarsiers, and bumblebee bats are just a few of the animals I can think of off the top of my head, each of which snuck their way into this book. The amount of fun nonfiction books for kids has quadrupled in recent times, and I’m just thankful that this book will beef up that list even more!

Me: Yes! Me too. How did you choose which animals to include for this book? I’ve seen this book advertised as part of a “Killer Cuties” series. Will there be more books in the works for this series?

Brooke: Choosing the animals for this book was TOUGH! I started out with well over two dozen creatures and really had to whittle it down. But never fear, a new Cute Animals book will soon be here, packed full of all the critters that didn’t make the initial cut (though in truth, I think the animals in the second book are even more AHHH!-dorable than the first!). The second dose of deadly darlings will come out sometime next year.

Me: Woot! I’m so excited to hear that! And I love the layout of the book! From Adorable to Killer for every single spread. The page turns are absolutely brilliant. Was that your decision or the editorial team?

Brooke: That was 100% my editor, Kelly Barrales-Saylor (formerly at Sourcebooks, now at Ten Speed Press)! My original submission wasn’t laid out quite like this, but she had the genius to reformat it to really highlight the dichotomy between the cute/deadly side of each animal. It was quite the rewrite, but so worth it!

Me: Wow! It really was. Those page turns are amazing. And Maria Garcia’s illustrations in this book are wonderful. She can capture the cute, as well as the devious so perfectly! Were there any illustration surprises for you? Any favorites?

Brooke: I completely agree, she’s wonderful! Each animal’s cute/killer sides are portrayed to perfection. As for surprises, I think my favorite part was seeing the captions and extra puns I included in the text as illustrations. It was exactly what I’d envisioned when writing the book and seeing them rendered with such clever skill was a dream come true!

Me: I noticed that she used a lot of visual jokes as well (like “a large flies and a diet croak”). Did you use illustration notes for her for those? Or were those a part she created all on her own?

Brooke: These were included by me in the manuscript itself, denoted as an “illustration caption” to show that they were to be their own separate vignette apart from the main text. Of course, you never know if an editor’s vision will completely align with your own, but I’m so glad these stayed in, I think they really added to the humor and gave each section that extra “punch!”

Me: I agree! What is one thing that surprised you in writing this story?

Brooke: I’m not sure I can narrow it down to just one. I learned SO much about animals while writing this, every ounce of the research that went into these books was riveting. I’ve always been an animal nut, and writing this book only cinched it; every animal is awesome in its own way. We’ve only scratched the surface of what we could learn. Nature is incredible—incredibly cute, and incredibly deadly!

Agreed! Thanks for stopping by my blog again Brooke.

Dear readers, this book publishes next week. It’s one of my favorite new nonfiction books this year. Trust me when I say you won’t want to miss it.