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