Denys Cazet is the author and illustrator of more than 25 picture books for children, including “Never Spit On Your Shoes,” winner of the California Young Readers Medal. The books about Minnie and Moo are his first for beginning readers. He was inspired to tell stories about the silly cow best friends when he passed a herd of cows in which all but two were facing the same way. The other two stood next to each other, facing in the opposite direction from the rest of the cows. He immediately dubbed the two nonconformists Minnie and Moo and imagined the adventures two cows who were loyal friends rather than followers of the herd. Cazet was an elementary school teacher for 25 years and has also been a school librarian and elementary school media specialist. He remains active in his local elementary school parent and advisory committees. A California native, Cazet lives with his family in the foothills of the Napa Valley.

 

Q&A with “Minnie and Moo”

Author & Illustrator Denys Cazet

 

 

What inspired you to write this new book?

            Two cows parked their Honda Civic in our driveway. When they knocked on the door I refused to open it. I’m not afraid of cows, but I am afraid of Jehovah Witnesses. I swear I saw a pamphlet. They promised they had nothing to sell except a good story. So…I let them in. They told their story and it was published under the title: Minnie and Moo and the Seven Wonders. I traded my work for a quart of milk. Now, they’re back and their new story is called Minnie and Moo in Hooves of Fire. They owe me another quart.

 

In your research, what was the most surprising thing that you learned about the book’s topic?

            When not giving milk, cows have time to write poetry.

 

What is your writing process?

            I write many drafts. Then, I revise more based on suggestions from my editor. After I’m holding the book in my hands, I wish I would have revised it two or three more times. I love writing and storytelling, although both arts differ from one another.

 

As a teacher, librarian, parent and a writer, you are very passionate about the value of picture books. Can you talk a little about that?

            There’s an assumption that picture books are inferior to chapter books which means that people don’t understand what a picture book is. Picture books often have more advanced vocabulary than chapter books, and the visual clues help students figure out unknown words. When I was a school librarian, the pictures in the Tin-Tin books helped reluctant readers become fluent readers.

            School testing is narrowing choices for teachers and students, which means that as a country we are drifting away from a liberal arts’ education. We need to expand choices to improve education, not narrow them. Furthermore, we are all different. When we test, we’re looking for similarities and if someone is different and doesn’t fit a certain definition, they’re labeled as deficient