Zo? Foster Blake channels her inner 'battle mum' for latest project
By Naomi White|
Zo? Foster Blake didn't have to look far from home to find the inspiration for her latest children's book, Battle Mum.
The author and entrepreneur instead jokes that her son Sonny, eight, proved such an effective muse he may sue her for plagiarism.
The Aussie mum-of-two has turned him and five-year-old daughter Rudy's antics into a story about the importance of letting kids play กช with a twist.
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Rather than the kids begging mum to play, Battle Mum is a mum on a mission to show off her best moves (Karate Kid's finest moves for Foster Blake's real life rustles), if she can manage to convince her kids Louis and Ana will to play.
"I think a lot of parents and carers probably feel guilty for knocking back an overexcited child that wants to engage them in imaginative play at a time when they really don't have the energy or are distracted with work, cooking etc. I certainly do," she said of the idea behind the book.
"So, I imagined a world where the roles were reversedกญ the mum is desperate to play, and the kids are not."
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After promising no tickling, no being too rough, they agree and the skin care founder promises what follows is a hoot.?
"I may subconsciously or subtly try to encourage kids to think about the world from a different perspective, but that's secondary to making an entertaining story," she said.
She also opened up about using humour in all her kids' books. ?
"It's a huge privilege to get a laugh," she asserted. "Fiction, even in picture book form, teaches kids about the world, how to empathise, how to respect others and themselves and deal with life events. It also encourages them to imagine and play and believe."
"As a kid, I loved Roald Dahl and Morris Gleitzman and Coles' Funny Picture books กช and as a parent buying books, I still do because laughter wins for me. (I also aim to make it enjoyable for the parent/carer. After all, they're the ones who will have to read it aloud 200 times).?"
It's so far been a hit with Sonny and Rudy who have asked for repeat reads of the tale they inspired.
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"My son, who is both the inspiration and the one most likely to sue me for plagiarism, loves all the games, names and moves in the bookกญ since he invented most of them in the first place.," Foster Blake said.
It's not the first book for Foster Blake, who has several adult titles, as well as four other kids' books, including her hit first book No One likes a Fart.?
Battle Mum is not the only project their kids have inspired, with Hamish having recently announced the launch of his new parenting podcast with Tim Bartley, How Other Dads Dad.
Battle Mum is out November 1. You can pre-order here. ?
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