This article was originally published in the Clarion-Ledger on Sunday, November 9.
Robert St. John may be a familiar household name in Mississippi as a writer of cookbooks, a chef, and a restaurateur. Now, “children’s book author” can be added to that list with his debut book for young kids, Fred the Red Frog. Robert collaborated with his artist mother, Dinny St. John, who created the illustrations for the book. A rhyming tale of a red frog that gets up to no good in a grocery store, Fred will be sure to delight families.
In this interview, the St. Johns tell about their creative process, the inspiration behind Fred, and telling stories to children.
Robert St. John will be signing Fred the Red Frog at Lemuria 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 13.
Where did the idea for Fred the Red Frog come from? Tell me a little bit about the book.
Robert: When my children were young, my wife was in charge of putting the kids to bed most nights. She always read them stories from various children’s books. When I put them to bed, I told stories. Most of the stories were centered on a frog named Fred that lived by the back steps of my boyhood home.
In these stories that I told to my kids, Fred and a boy named Bobby went on wonderfully fun misadventures. The kids loved them and requested the Fred stories over the books we already had on the shelves.
One day I sat down and put one to rhyme. That is the story that made it into this book.
How did you decide that your mother would illustrate this book?
Robert: I love collaborating with people, whether it’s in business or creative pursuits. The greatest joys of my professional career have been the three books I co-authored with Wyatt Waters. Marshall Ramsey and I collaborated on a book several years ago and we had fun doing that.
My mom taught art for 50 years. She just retired this year at the ripe, young age of 81. I had a blast collaborating with her and am looking forward to the book tour as we travel around the state to different schools, kindergartens, and daycare centers.
What medium did you use to illustrate this book? Tell us a little about your involvement in the book.
Dinny: I used Prismacolor Coloring Pencil to create each illustration.
Robert brought me what he had written and asked me if I would do the illustrations. It took a while to do it! I remember our first test run. Robert let Holleman, my granddaughter, show the book at the school library for show-and-tell after the illustrations were painted. Robert read the book as Holleman showed off the photos, and her class loved it. They all wanted a copy.
Out of the many characters you illustrated in this book, who was your favorite character to draw?
Dinny: Fred has to be my favorite character because he has so many different poses that bring the book to life. Drawing Fred (the frog) really allowed me to get to know him.
You are a retired art teacher. How long did you teach, and what do you hope this book accomplishes?
Dinny: I have taught art for 46 years since 1968 at a number of places, including Hattiesburg Public Schools, Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, William Carey University, and The University of Southern Mississippi.
I hope that children really enjoy the book, as the story is different and interesting. I think that children who read it or have it read to them will enjoy the story of Fred the Red Frog.
Hopefully Fred doesn’t become frog-legs. Would you say your love of food is hilariously transformed into Fred’s adventures at the D&F grocery store?
Robert: Well, the grocery store in the book is based on a store owned by my lifelong friend, Forrest Roberts and his father, Doc. When I was a kid it was an A&P. Today it is a Corner Market. In the book it is named D & F for Doc and Forrest.
No frogs were harmed in the writing of this book!
What is your favorite children’s book?
Robert: I was a huge fan of Dr. Seuss when I was a boy. My maternal grandfather was also a great storyteller. I used the stories he told me as inspiration for the stories I told my own children.
Dinny: When I was a child my favorite children’s book and story was Peter Pan. Now, my favorite children’s book is Fred the Red Frog by Robert St. John!
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