An Author Interview with Doreen Cronin

Doreen Cronin grew up “in a red house with a big backyard in a neighborhood full of kids.” The wonders of her childhood never left her, even as she practiced law in a Manhattan office early in her professional life. That’s when the idea of cows who could type came to her, and Click, Clack, Moo, her first children’s book, was born. More than 50 books later, Cronin is back with her latest release, Click, Clack…Tooth Fairy!. Follett Content caught up with the author to talk about her new book, her beloved characters, and how she finally found the nerve to drive through a car wash.

GET THE BOOK

A New Kind of Assignment for Duck

What inspired Click, Clack…Tooth Fairy! and what interested you about putting Duck in a helping role that asks him to manage his naturally loud personality?

One of my favorite things to do is to visit schools and classrooms. The enthusiasm and creativity of young readers is energizing and contagious! As part of an author visit, we always create the “bones” of a new story together with a character and a problem. The tooth fairy is one of those characters that the kids love to use to make up stories. When I ask them, “What kind of problems could a tooth fairy have?” I get answers like, “She has no teeth!” “She ran out of money,” “She can’t fly!” and “She got lost!” or “The kid’s breath is gross!” and “The dog eats her!” All of them are great story starters – and after hundreds of author visits, the tooth fairy started taking up permanent space in my creative brain. Voilà! Duck as the Tooth Fairy. What could go wrong? 

Connecting the Backlist to the New Book 

If a teacher or librarian paired Click, Clack…Tooth Fairy! with two earlier books for an author study, which would you choose – and what theme or creative activity would you invite children to explore across all three?

Click, Clack, Moo; Click Clack…Tooth Fairy!; and Duck for President all introduce us to characters who need a little – or not so little – help, whether it’s because they’re cold, they’re overworked, or they’re upset! It’s hard to express those things sometimes, so writing a note, or putting up a sign, or even drawing a picture can help us, big or small, to express what we need – electric blankets! – or how we’re feeling – angry about all those chores, as in Farmer Brown Must Go! – or overwhelmed and asking for help. Some kids are really verbal – I’m cold! Some kids are not. The more options they explore for expressing themselves, the more likely they are to be heard. 

The Series’ Lasting Appeal

What do you think children recognize about themselves in Duck, Farmer Brown, and the barnyard animals that keeps these stories meaningful to new generations of readers?

They’re family. They don’t agree all the time. They have good days and bad days. They make questionable choices. They’re cold sometimes, they love trampolines, they don’t like chores, they lose their teeth, they make messes and too much noise!  Farmer Brown can be grumpy sometimes, but he takes care of them, and they keep him on his toes. Betsy has created such lovable, funny characters that even the youngest pre-readers are drawn into Farmer Brown’s world. I still crack up when I see Betsy’s sketches for the first time. (Editor’s Note: Betsy Lewin is Cronin’s longtime illustrator.)  The cows, the chickens, Farmer Brown, and Duck are all drawn with openness and humor – I think they make us feel welcome.

Reconsidering Duck

In Click, Clack…Tooth Fairy!, Duck steps in to help someone who is overwhelmed. How might this story invite longtime readers to reconsider what they expect from him – and recognize that someone can be both mischievous and caring?   

You know you’ve arrived at some wisdom when you finally understand that many things can be true at once! Duck is mischievous, for sure, but what he’s really doing is practicing independence and pushing boundaries and having fun doing it. He’s never unkind, and as I think about it, he’s never really embarrassed, either! He makes his choices with aplomb! Duck is never one thing, none of us are, and kids need to know that about themselves. Did you get into a little bit of trouble today? Break a rule? Sneak a cookie? Hurt someone’s feelings? You probably did, so did I. Are you still a kind, generous, funny, lovable Duck? You bet. 

Adapting Without Losing Yourself

Duck’s loud nature presents a challenge for a job that requires quiet. How might his experience help children discuss adjusting their behavior to a situation while still valuing who they are?

The joy Duck feels is that he was able to help – not that he did it perfectly. The Tooth Fairy had confidence in him even though he was undertaking something brand new and of great responsibility! It’s important to note that she didn’t fly around quietly and unseen, making sure he did it right. No micromanaging here! Mistakes will be made; let them. 

Taking the Story into Daily Life

After reading Click, Clack…Tooth Fairy!, what small act of helpfulness would you invite a classroom or library group to try, and what would you hope children learn from the experience?

That feeling of “everybody knows how to do this except me” can take root at a very young age and then carry forward into...forever. I recently worked up the nerve to go through a car wash. I’m not kidding. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get my car on the track, that I wouldn’t know when to put it in neutral, etc. A car wash! Surely everyone knows how to drive through a car wash. I’m 60 years old. I was ready to ask for help (gulp), but I didn’t have to because there was an enormous sign anticipating my anxiety: Put Car in Neutral Here. 

And more importantly, people waving me forward and gesturing which way to turn the wheel, like I was landing a plane. Not only can I go through a car wash now, but I can help you do it, too! And you can sense my newfound confidence! I think asking for help is just as important as being the helper. I would love to see kids do an “I need a helper” activity and “I can help you with…” I can help you with tying your shoelaces! Buttoning your coat!  Putting the cap on the glue! I need help cleaning up my desk. Tying my shoes! Sharpening my pencil! Putting my coat away!

About the Author

Learn more about Doreen Cronin and her work. >