KID LIT WEEK: Henry by Megan Andrews

Guys!

This week we chatted about children’s books and reading to our kids. With that, we also assembled the Author Avengers – four local women who have taken the bull by the proverbial horns and are kicking ass in all sorts of wonderful ways. These sisters have done it for themselves, quite literally. They’re all self-published authors and continue to make significant strides across South Africa’s kid lit scene (and beyond!).

Our next Author Avenger is illustrator, designer, self-proclaimed wannabee hipster and mom of two Megan Andrews.

Megan is a Cape Town-based creative with an epically diverse portfolio. Her latest business endeavour? Shoe Tattoos! Just shut up and take my money.

You can commission Megan to ink your shoes with some awesome custom designs. You provide the shoes, she provides the ink. Product-tested here by Megy’s four-year-old, Olive. Who better than to test the resilience of some shoe art?

Okay, onto the books. This year, Megan dove headfirst into the world of children’s literature, having been commissioned by our first Author Avenger, Phillippa Morassi, to illustrate the My Feeling Friends series.

Soon after the release of the first My Feeling Friends instalment, Sammy the Starfish, Megan announced that she was due to publish her own children’s picture book, Henry. 

Isn’t he the cutest? We love Henry, and we know you guys will too. Megy’s illustrations are amazing in this book, it almost feels like a Disney movie.

Henry is a dragon

and his body has grown

he can no longer fit

into his teacup home

To get your hands on a copy of Henry and to find out where he eventually lands up (hint: we totes wouldn’t mind setting up shop in his new home), email Megan at studio@megy.co.za and she will hook you up and let you know how you can go about ordering one (quite possibly a signed copy, which is always so cool to have).

More with Megan (an author Q&A):

What made you want to write a children’s book?

Its always been a dream of mine to write a children’s book but, since I am such a visual person, words don’t come easily to me. Henry has been on my mind for around 7 years and this year, I decided to just do it. I am hoping to write more books in the new year. 

What was your favourite book growing up?

I had so many, but I remember reading all those monthly Disney books we used to get via the post. Those were such a treat every month, and it was super exciting to collect them from the post office every month. (The world was much bigger then ;) No internet and fun things.)

In the age of iPads, Netflix and fast-paced parenting, how do you ensure that your kids become keen readers?

I think because I am so passionate about children’s books that it has rubbed off onto my kids naturally. My kids love spending time looking at books and they know full well that I don’t mind spending money on books. But as we are in a world with digital media, its also a good idea for them to be exposed to everything as they will need to know how that all works as they grow up. I think its all about balance, and we as parents are also learning how to manage it as we raise them, since we didn’t have this when we were kids.

Name a must-have picture book, other than your own, that you would recommend to anyone.

 Anything by Oliver Jeffers!

Hey, Megan. Congrats on this amazing feat.

 We see you. We salute you. You are doing a pretty cool job at life.