PITTSBORO, N.C. —
Camille Andros, the local author
who I introduced last year when she published her debut picture book, "Charlotte the Scientist is Squished," has a new book out this month called "The Dress and the Girl."
"The Dress and the Girl" follows the story of a little girl and her favorite dress, who must leave the Greek island where they live and immigrate to the United States. The picture book is getting some great reviews.
"Together, the carefully crafted text and gorgeous illustrations pair to tell a truly extraordinary tale," says the review from the School Library Journal. "A delightful picture book with an important story to be told. Recommended for sharing again and again."
I checked in with Andros, who lives in the Chatham County countryside with her husband and six kids, about the book and what's next.
Go Ask Mom: A lot of people are surprised to find out how long it can take to publish a picture book. This one started a while ago. Tell us a bit about that journey.
Camille Andros: I first had the idea for THE DRESS AND THE GIRL about eight years ago when my husband and I visited the small Greek village his great-grandfather grew up in and left when he immigrated to the United States.
GAM: Tell us a little bit about the story.
CA: THE DRESS AND THE GIRL is about a girl and her favorite dress made by her mother. They spend each day together in their small Greek village until the family immigrates to the United States and the dress and the girl are separated. It's a story about immigration, separation, and reunion and how a life we may think is ordinary is actually quite extraordinary.
GAM: It was inspired by a couple of personal stories. What sparked this story from your own family's life?
CA: My husband's great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from Greece in 1907. He left his entire family to start a new life and never saw them again. That act of bravery made my life possible. Our family stories connect us to our past, teach us about ourselves, and help prepare us for a better future.
GAM: Your book has a storyline about immigration that might seem "ripped from the headlines" these days, so to speak. Why are picture books such a powerful genre for helping kids understand the world around them?
CA: Picture books can be conversation starters for topics that can sometimes be hard to talk about with younger children. Sharing stories brings the humanity to difficult situations and circumstances. Picture books can teach empathy, they can be a way for children to see themselves and feel less alone in the world.
GAM: You have more books slated for publication. What's next?
CA: After THE DRESS AND THE GIRL, I have the next CHARLOTTE THE SCIENTIST book coming in March 2019 called CHARLOTTE THE SCIENTIST FINDS A CURE and then in fall 2019 I have a picture book biography of Eliza Hamilton coming out called FROM A SMALL SEED: The Story of Eliza Hamilton.
