Elsa Takaoka

She eats raw slug

Elias: Konnichiwa, Elsa.

Elsa: Mr Snazzy looks wonderful. I'm jealous.

Elias: Being that you live in Japan, do you eat your slug raw?

Elsa: Unfortunately, I am not a huge fan of raw slug, I do enjoy however the more “western” adaptation of this delicacy-fried.

Elias: How does living in Japan and being surrounded by sumo wrestlers, influence your writing style?

Elsa:  My children and I are big fans of the local library. The children’s book section is incredible and I am always amazed at the quantity of children’s books that display nudity, of course it is done in such an innocent and playful way that it makes seeing pictures of nearly naked Sumos pretty awesome. It has made my writing style bigger and bolder.

Elias: Your book, 'Goo and Spot in the Do Not Wiggle Riddle', teaches the importance of good listening skills. Would it work on slugs too? Some of my slugs have gotten to be very disobedient as of late.

Elsa: I am not sure if slug world has wi-fi but up here we are bombarded by daily distractions and an over abundance of media, active listening is in fact becoming a thing of the past. Goo and Spot in The Do Not Wiggle Riddle, was created as a result of noticing the trend of people looking down at mobile devices rather than face a speaker during a conversation. Teaching children this is not acceptable should start at an early age.

Elias: The illustrations of Goo and Spot look as though they have a touch of anime about them. What inspired this style and would you consider employing Yoshi the Slug to illustrate your next book?

Elsa: Yoshi the Slug would have to formally apply and be interviewed but being that I already have a strong partnership with Catherine Toennisson, the current illustrator, Yoshi’s luck runs short. Catherine, is in fact a huge fan of anime more specifically a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki director of Studio Ghibli. Her strength lies in storyboarding which is evident in Goo and Spot in The Do Not Wiggle Riddle. Catherine, has recently started her own web comic showcasing this strength, to see more of her wonderful work visit her here  

http://fyrecalla.deviantart.com/ or ://papercallalilies.tumblr.com/.

Elias: How did you come up with the name Goo? Was it after my slugs had slimed your kitchen?

Elsa: The name Goo was inspired after a little slug in my life, a mischievous and energetic little boy, Christopher.

Elias: You say that you're a country girl at heart. Did you grow then throw many a cabbage in your younger days?

Elsa: I am indeed a country girl, born and raised amongst the agriculture fields of California. As for “cabbage chugging” younger days- I had plenty. Never once bought fruit until I moved out of California, prior to that It had been hand picked  from the fields by my grandfather, everything from watermelons to cabbages.

Elias: Did mathematical genius and amateur dramatics enthusiast, Clyde the Slug, help you with your book 'My Journal Notes on Addition and Diversity'?

Elsa: I will take all the help I can get in mathematics even if it comes from Clyde the math savvy slug. The book was such an effortless project. On a vacation trip to Las Vegas, a dear friend of mine showed me her most recent illustrations, a set of wooden dolls from around the world, an  idea was born and the book soon followed. A rare case of illustrations came first, ingenuity.

Elias: How do you come up with your ideas? Is it due to the stuff that my slugs put into your tea?

Elsa: I  take my tea with milk and two lumps of slug, sit quietly while my little ones doodle and play and gather my inspiration from the beauty of their childhood.

Elias: Would you consider writing a book to help English-speaking slugs learn Japanese? 

Elsa: The goal is that all of the books I write be translated for bilingual readers both in Japanese and Spanish. I am fluent in Spanish and around mid-level in Japanese. However with so much to learn and do, I have yet to reach that goal.

Elias: How did you find our group, Fun-tastic Children's Books (Slugs Welcome)? How much do you love it? Do you consider the group's founder to be an absolute genius?

Elsa: I was lucky enough to receive an invite from one of the group members. I love the group and I apologize ahead of time for not being more active in it with helpful information, life is pretty hectic at the moment. I do however enjoy being surrounded by fellow authors, I have always believed it takes a very special person to write for children. It is very difficult to get noticed and quite easy to get discouraged but knowing that we are all in it together for a common good, children’s literature makes it a bit more bearable. As for the groups founder, thank you AND I plea the slug amendment in answering any more questions… 

Thank you, Elsa. Try not to eat too many slugs.

Goo and Spot in the Do Not Wiggle Riddle
Funny, silly and sweet, Goo and Spot teaches the importance of good listening skills. This amusing riddle educates without sounding like lessons and lectures. Instead, it has a fun and imaginative style. This book about Goo and Spot’s amazing and colorful adventures will definitely hit a child’s funny bone, with a valuable lesson learned along the way!


My Journal Notes on Addition and Diversity 

A wonderfully sweet journal-and-doodle style picture book for ages five and under that teaches early mathematics concepts; counting and addition. Illustrated with whimsy wooden dolls from around the world, the book sends a message of diversity and acceptance.

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