Goodreads Summary
Heather and Bruce
Galpert authors of My Pancakes Taste
Different Today!
1. What inspired the idea behind this
book?
BRUCE: As a young father with two
sons, I read a lot to my kids…I also spent most Sundays cooking pancakes with
and for them--I ate quite a few myself! Trying to teach my kids life lessons,
recycling and protecting the environment were also concepts that were
important, but difficult to teach to young kids. I always felt that it was hard
for children to grasp how their actions could impact the environment positively
or negatively. The idea of My Pancakes Taste Different Today! came out of that
quest.
2. How would you describe the
character of Ethan?
BRUCE: Ethan is just like my
youngest son Evan was at that age. The character of Ethan is built around Evan:
Ethan is eight years old, observant, intelligent, fun loving, sweet and kind to
nature, animals and others. He loves his pancakes and his mother! He is smart and funny, has tons of friends,
and is always asking questions. In real
life, I now have a three-year old grandson named Ethan by way of my son
Matthew, so all bases are covered!
3. What was the biggest challenge you
faced in writing My
Pancakes Taste Different Today!?
BRUCE: Getting started, the
beginning, the middle, and the end! Writing is not my strong suit! Fortunately
for me, my wife Heather came into my life. Not only did she inherit my family,
but she inherited this project of 20 years that I was unable to complete, even
after attending children’s book writing workshops given by some of the best
writers in the business. She is credited for helping me put a structure around
the story and move it from an idea to something I can hold and read to my
grandkids.
4. What was the most rewarding moment
you experienced while writing this book?
BRUCE: Seeing the beautiful
artwork that Barbara Cate did, and how it worked in harmony with the writing to
really tell the story. Heather and I have had such a wonderful time working on
this together – it’s our baby.
5. How much research did you do for
the book? What type of research did you do? BRUCE: Countless Sundays making all
kinds of pancakes: blueberry, chocolate, apple fritters. Flipping pancakes and
spending time with my boys, was the extent of my research, the best kind! And
sadly, watching the growing environmental stress and crisis we are facing as
the years march on.
6. What does your writing process
look like?
BRUCE: A lot of hair pulling and
the words just fall into place. Heather is the the writer in the family, I’m a
numbers guy. She helped me tease out the story.
7. Where do you turn for inspiration?
BRUCE: Heather
8. Where did your interest in writing
children’s books begin?
BRUCE: I have always had my
favorite books…The 4 Chinese Brothers, Ferdinand the Bull, A Fly Went By, A
Fish out of Water, Go Dog Go…many of these were based on cause and
effect…progressive events. I am also a
cartoon addict, still to this day I spend more time watching cartoons than any
other medium. My son Evan is a brilliant
voice over artist and my dream is to see him as a character in an animated
film.
9. Which writers inspired you as a
kid? Which writers inspire you today? (see above)
10. What are some ways to get young
people interested in the environment and what foods they eat?
BRUCE: Farmer’s Markets, natural
groceries, growing seeds from a packet at home. I think getting kids to engage
with nature is the best way…sadly this is so hard for many kids around the
world. I had the fortune to live in both Japan and the Philippines as a child
and young adult, and the differences in the way each of those cultures reveres
and cares for their environment is vast. It really begins culturally at a very
young age.
11. How should kids be taught about
personal responsibility and their role in sustainability? BRUCE: By their
parents, actions speak the loudest.
12. How would you describe the
importance of investing in our children?
BRUCE: They are all we have for
the future, a dollar invested in them is worth many more dollars in return down
the road. You are seeing this in action today with all of the technology innovations
from well-educated Millennials
13. How do you like to eat your
pancakes?
BRUCE: I like putting chopped apples
in the batter, adding cinnamon, and then topping with a blend of butter, syrup,
and raspberry jam! Don’t forget to sprinkle powdered sugar on at the last
minute.
14. What do you hope readers take away
from My
Pancakes Taste Different Today!?
BRUCE: I hope that
parents read the book to their kids and that the book is also used as an early
reader. This will be the best way to teach children how their actions impact
their world.
15. What future projects are you
working on?
BRUCE: We have two books in the
hopper that we are both very excited about.
One thing at a time I am told by my wife, but creativity has no timeline!
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