The Power of Pets, Place, and Personal Experience: Lauren Castillo on the Inspirations Behind 'Just Like Millie'

In this heartfelt episode, award-winning author and illustrator Lauren Castillo shares the personal experiences and meaningful inspirations behind her latest picture book, Just Like Millie. Castillo opens up about how her own childhood, hometown, and beloved pets influenced the story of a shy young girl who finds courage and connection through her new canine companion. From exploring themes of anxiety and friendship to sprinkling in local Easter eggs, Castillo offers a glimpse into her thoughtful creative process and layered approach to storytelling through both words and art. Join us for an intimate conversation that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with "Just Like Millie" before even turning the first page. Transcription: ⁠You can read the ⁠transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠⁠. Order a Copy: Just Like Millie on ⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠⁠. Nana in the Country on ⁠Amazon⁠ and ⁠Bookshop.org⁠. Resources: Find Lauren Castillo at laurencastillo.com and follow her on Twitter @studiocastillo. Lauren Castillo Talks About: Her latest picture book Just Like Millie and its themes of shyness, anxiety, courage, and friendship Personal experiences that inspired the story, including interactions with a shy child and her own dogs Setting the book in her hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and including local Easter eggs in the illustrations Dedicating the book to her recently passed dogs and incorporating them into the story The power of pets and companionship in helping children navigate challenging emotions Her creative process, including using ink, watercolor, and soft pastels for the illustrations Capturing the emotions of characters through details in facial expressions and color The significance of the book's endpapers and jacket flap information Hopes for how the book will resonate with readers, especially shy or socially anxious children Experiences as both an author and illustrator, and how her process differs for each role The collaborative nature of creating picture books with a publishing team Revisiting her childhood and Nana in her previous book Nana in the Country The importance of reading dedications and acknowledgments to understand the author's heart