If you have a Night Fever and feel like You Should Be Dancing, then today’s picture book is for you!

Jody Jensen Shaffer is an award-winning poet and the author of more than seventy books of fiction and nonfiction for children. Jody’s poetry and fiction have been published in magazines like Highlights, Ladybug, and Clubhouse Jr. She lives in Liberty, MO. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Twitter or BlueSky.

DISCO DAVE is a hilarious picture book all about a walrus who loves to dance. DISCO! Yes, you heard me right! This book manages to capture not only the disco craze, the clothes, and the era, but all the heart as well. Dave is honestly a disaster on the dance floor. What more would you expect from a Walrus? And I love that this never changes. Instead, he’s able to channel his love of disco into another path that leads to a wonderful fulfillment.

Welcome Jody!

Me: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing journey? When did you start writing picture books? How has that brought you to writing this picture book?

Jody: Hi, Jena! Thanks for having me on Simply 7! My journey in writing for children started with publishing poetry for magazines, beginning in 2006. During that time, I was also studying and trying to write my own picture books and learning about the industry. I joined SCBWI and a couple of long-term critique groups, and for the next few years, I wrote and submitted a bit and published work-for-hire nonfiction for educational publishers. My first trade picture book, Prudence the Part-Time Cow, came out in 2017 with Laura Godwin/Macmillan. A Chip Off the Old Block with Nancy Paulsen/Penguin followed in 2018. Around that same time, I got an idea about a disco-loving walrus named Dave. Finally, in 2026, that idea will become a book with Magination Press!

Me: I’ve never seen a disco loving walrus before. What gave you the idea for this story?

Jody: Oh, good! I was afraid they were everywhere! 😊 When I’m brainstorming picture book ideas, I think about problems/desires my characters might encounter—problems give characters something to solve, desires gives them something to strive for—and I reckoned a walrus might have difficulty dancing, what with tusks and flippers.

Me: I have to ask, of all music genres you could’ve written about, why Disco? Why not Hip Hop or something else? Did you receive any flack for choosing an older music style (i.e., from critique partners, editors, or agents, etc.)?

Jody: Great question! Well, first there’s the alliteration—Disco Dave. Second, I grew up listening to disco—the songs that played on repeat on Top 40 radio stations in the late 70s and 80s! Unlike Dave, however, I’ve never been to a disco, but the music is fun and upbeat, and the disco clothes are far out—I did have a shiny shirt and purple corduroy bell bottoms—so I knew an illustrator would have fun with Dave’s story.

I only had one editor push back about disco, saying she was concerned that millennial parents, who were born after disco, wouldn’t really connect with the theme. But most editors said something like this nice response, “I love disco as much as Dave does, and this was a sweet read.” But the best response, of course, was, “I really love Disco Dave, and I’m happy to be able to make an offer!”

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

Jody: That as much as I knew about disco music from listening to the radio, I really didn’t know anything about the culture of disco.

Me: The illustrations by Yana Kozak are glorious! They perfectly capture all the fun of the seventies and disco! Were there any illustration surprises for you? Any favorites?

Jody: Yana did an amazing job! Every time my editor, Katie Ten Hagen, sent me sketches, I cackled! Dave is so adorably earnest and fun! Two of my favorite spreads are when Dave, in his disco regalia, is watching disco on TV at the beginning of the book, with all of his hopes and dreams on display, and later, in the middle, when he learns that disco may die. Oh, my heart! Oh, Dave’s sweatsuit! All of the illustrations are fantastic!

Me: You have quite a few books published and more on the way. Any other projects we can look forward to reading from you?

Jody: Yes! My novelty board book series with Highlights Press continues with  Daddy’s Little Burrito and Mama’s Little Cupcake, and in 2027 IVPKids will publish my picture book Putting on My Jesus Shirt, while Beaming Books will release a follow-up to Sometimes I Am Hot Lava called Sometimes I Am a Waterfall, plus a few unannounced projects. I’m so lucky to do what I do.

Me: Wow! That’s an incredible list to look forward to! Do you have any advice for aspiring picture book writers?

Jody: Read, read, read picture books published within the last five years. Join a picture book critique group, or start one yourself. Practice, practice, practice! And have fun!

That’s great advice Jody. Thank you for stopping by my blog today.

Dear readers, this book publishes the first week of March. It combines heart, music, desire and problem in unexpected ways that you won’t want to miss. I highly recommend it.