What if a cantankerous lion who demanded silence roamed outside your village, when your heart sang to the beat of a drum? Would you play anyway?

Alicia D. Williams is the critically acclaimed author of Genesis Begins Again, which received the Newbery and Kirkus Prize honors, a William C. Morris finalist, and won the Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Alicia D also debuted a picture book biography, Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston and followed up with Jane Addams Peace Award winning Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress. Her picture book, The Talk, won both Coretta Scott King and Golden Kite Honors. Alicia celebrates her verse novel, Mid-Air, a 2024 National Book Award longlist title. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Instagram or Facebook.

NANI AND THE LION is a delightful picture book about a young girl who refuses to listen, but not in the way you think. You see, there’s a grumptastic lion prowling about who hates noise of any kind. He has shushed all of the animals and villagers with his ginormous roar. But Nani loves playing the drum. “Don’t do it!” everyone tells her, “you’ll make the lion angry.” But she ignores all caution and plays to her heart’s content. And oh my goodness! The dancing. You cannot help but dance! Nani plays the drum like no other so she does what she knows best. How this book resolves is SO full of win that I guarantee young readers will love this book and want it read over and over.

Welcome Alicia!

Me: For those who might not be familiar with your work, can you give us a brief history of your writing journey? When did you start writing books for children? How has that brought you to this book?

Alicia: As an oral storyteller and dramatist, I often penned one-woman shows reflecting historical events and people; yet, I came to writing books much later in life.  After receiving advice from esteemed author Jewell Parker Rhodes to “learn the craft,” I enrolled into a children’s writing program. And that was my start!

In 2019, my debut novel, Genesis Begins Again, was published. To my shock, it won a Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award for New Talent. The awards led me to a stagnant place, and I was afraid to write another novel. So, I focused on picture book biographies: Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston and Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress, and The Talk. At last, I finally wrote another middle grade story! My verse novel, Mid-Air, was longlisted for the National Book Award.

Wow, so how did this journey bring me to Nani and the Lion? I believe my introduction to Zora Neale Hurston, which led me to folktales and eventually becoming an oral storyteller. Coming back full circle now, led me to Nani.

Me: This is a wonderful combination of storytelling and dance that feels like a retelling of a classic folk tale. What gave you the idea for this story?

Alicia: Music, movement, and storytelling is all part of my make-up. As a Master Teaching Artist of art integration, I use these skills to engage children to read and write. Later, as a teacher assistant, I noticed the frustration that children (as young as kindergarten) would have during Writer’s Workshop. It was disheartening to see their tears of not “getting it.” And I thought, if I ever get the chance, I would layer writer’s workshop to begin with oral storytelling.

After the pandemic, while in the role of teacher assistant, I was asked to use my teaching artist skills for the transitional kindergarten classes in a segment called Wonder Time. And lucky me, I got the chance to implement my plan! I used movement, dance, drumming, puppetry, and chanting, without ever reading the words. And by the time I read the book, students were engaged with not only the text, but illustrations too. They recalled the story and dialogue as well.

In my experience, folktales were almost always the perfect introduction for young learners. They connected with these wonderful read alouds in a different way. It is the same connection that I felt when I read Zora Neale Hurston’s work and Virginia Hamilton’s too. And the same connection my daughter had when I shared folktales with her. As I taught those lessons I thought, I wonder if I could write my own.And as I taught those lessons I thought, I wonder if I could write my own.

It was then, the idea for Nani and the Lion was born.

Me: I can actually see this story in my mind as a stage production for children. I understand you have a background in theater. Was that a consideration for you as you wrote it? Do you hope this story might be dramatized one day?

Alicia: Yes, I do hope so! That would be so fun and awesome!

As I wrote the tale, theater was not at the forefront of my thoughts. My mind was on arts-integrated lessons that would use puppetry, storybox theatre, chants, movement, and music too. I pictured children creating their own story endings, writing and sharing their own folktales too.

You would think I would have had a theatrical play in my mind with my background. Fun fact: I used to perform for the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and I played Ma in the stage adaptation of the picture book Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman. I suppose, now that I think about it, I would love both Nani and the Lion and Jump at the Sun to be adapted for dramatization. Can’t you see that lion chasing Nani? It would be so cute!

Me: Ha! Yes I can. What is one thing that surprised you in writing this story?

Alicia: Gosh, surprised? I would say that I am surprised and honored that I get to add to the folktale cannon. Does that count?

Folktales and oral storytelling has been a part of our lives for eons. We have wonderfully expanded children’s literature genres, but folktales are sometimes lost in the cracks. And with classroom teachers working hard to get students to read and engage reluctant readers, I would offer the idea of dipping back to folktales. There are many benefits to this type of storytelling. It enhances language development and listening skills, cultivates creativity and imagination, offers empathy and emotional connection, and allows children to explore their own cultural roots and those of others. Plus, there are incredibly fun to read out loud to any age group.

So, though I didn’t have any surprises in writing this story, I’d still like to reserve anticipation for a different type of surprise. And that would be for families and classrooms to read this tale, theatre companies to dramatize it, and students to dig up lores and tell them once again.

Me: The illustrations by Anna Cunha are amazing. The soft textures and bright color palette are so captivating! Do you have any favorite illustrations? Any surprises?

Alicia: I totally agree, the illustrations are beautiful. Anna has a style that is recognizable and timeless. I recall being captivated by her work in other picture books. So, when I got to see my text captured, I fell in love all over again with sweet Nani. I wrote the text to be lively and animated, and now with Anna’s softness, it allows for others to interpret the voice in a different way. That’s what is so brilliant about picture books, some people read them for the story and others, for the illustrations. There are always two stories being told.

My favorite illustration is of Nani sitting under a tree, a bird perched on her hand, and with her drum beside her. Nani is sad, of course, and it shows. I feel for her wanting so badly to do something that brings her joy, yet everyone shushes her out of fear. I think children can relate to this picture and connect with the emotion.

Me: I agree! You are a successful author with incredible middle grade novels, novels in verse, and picture books published at this point in your career. What routines do you have in place to help you produce so many different genres of writing? How do you keep on task?

Alicia: Hahaha! You made my head swell! Thank you!

Previously, I did have a routine . . . daydreaming, if you consider it to be unique enough. I like to visualize the characters and scenes before I drift off to sleep. Even so, I wish I could offer a specific routine like the late playwright August Wilson. He’d walk around his workspace, circling it several times before he sat down to write. I have no such routine, and if I had, it would be disrupted because I am now a nomad. I travel a lot, and I don’t carry much outside of a carryon and bookbag. This also means that I am often in different locations, different homes, and different energies.

As far as the genres, I simply tell stories that speak to me. I tell the story that nudges me and whispers, I’m ready. And I honor the voice in which it wants to be told even if that means being open to a genre that I’m unfamiliar with. I’m more of an intuitive writer, so I don’t plot stories or create outlines. I usually have an idea of where the story will go and that’s all. I tend to listen to the characters and trust that the tale will come even if it feels like a puzzle that I have to solve. I stay on task because I have deadlines, some imposed by the editor and others, self-imposed.

Truth is, I have so many story ideas that I want to live long enough to write them all. That’s the beauty of creating . . . the more you create the more ideas flow to you. And I take time to live life and be in the moment, as well to write and daydream. It’s a lifestyle.

Me: What advice for other aspiring picture book writers would you each give?

Alicia: It tickles me that people would want my advice. I can never get used to that question, yet I’m honored that I still get asked.

It goes along with my ideology above. Every story that is dropped into your spirit is a gift. Even if it sounds similar to one of your peers. It is still your story because you have a unique voice. Only you can tell the story in the way that you can because you are uniquely you. You will bring your history, traditions, experiences, joys, and even regrets—everything that makes you you to the page. And be patient. Many times it is about timing. The story will speak when it’s ready. It will nudge you, and you won’t be able to ignore it. Then, when it is time, collect your ideas and mentor texts, and most importantly, be open.

I love that. That is great advice Alicia and thank you for stopping by my blog today.

Dear readers, this book will be published next week. It’s an incredible combination of styles and rhythm that perfectly captures a timeless folktale. Trust me when I say, you won’t want to miss it!