Today Cindy Wume joins Ian Eagleton to talk about her brand-new picture book, HOME IS A HUG…

Welcome! Before we settle down in The Reading Realm to talk about Home is a Hug, what’s your drink and snack of choice?

Chocolate is my favourite snack and so I also love hot chocolate.

What can you tell us about your new book Home is a Hug?

Home is a Hug is a book about what “home’’ represents and the book has a variety of die-cuts and flaps to give the reader little surprises. Almost every “home’’ in the book was developed from the classic shape of “⌂” – a house. I wanted to push the boundaries to create as many kinds of homes as possible. Hopefully, these different homes can offer a joyful reading experience and everyone can find a home that resonates with them. It was the first time I had a chance to design die-cuts and flaps for a book, which was exciting as with these elements, the book seems to come alive and create different layers that hopefully enrich the reading experience.

While making this project, I also aimed to create different ‘’breathing spaces’’ throughout the book, including the white spaces in the artwork and the space between texts and illustrations. This allows the readers to explore and create an inner space within the book where they can feel embraced.

What inspired this story? 

This story was inspired by my relationships with family, which is where my strength comes from. I wanted to make a book that would be close to my heart, and the idea of “home’’ naturally came to mind. Though home is not a new theme in picture books, I felt it was still worth creating one with my own “interpretation’’, which would offer a brand-new reading experience for readers to enjoy.

Do you have a favourite illustration from the book?

My favourite one is the BIG apple home spread.

One aim behind making this book is to achieve the “counterpoint’’ between text and illustration, and this spread was created with that concept in mind. Big and small is interesting because the measure is relative, which allows for humour to emerge. It was also a lot of fun designing the “big” home for the caterpillar. I imagined that the caterpillar would have different rooms for shoes, hats, a special sofa, chair and hammock to match its body. Hopefully, the readers will enjoy discovering what’s inside the big apple, just like I did.

What are your own childhood memories of books and reading? 

My mum ran a nursery school when I was little so I was lucky to have great access to many books. My favourite picture book back then was Where the Wild Things Are. I loved the mix of “real life” and “imagination’’. The magical world the book created offered me a space to release my emotions.

Finally can you describe Home is a Hug in three words? 

Space, Whimsical, Inclusion.