I LOVE writing about animals, they open up a world of possibilities and fun. It’s impossible to resist using animal characters, when allow you to create a world where you can: Dance with a goose, Fly kites with a moose. Eat cakes with a seal, Play tug of war with an eel. Sing silly songs with a cockatoo, Jump in muddy puddles with a kangaroo, Leap around with a bouncing snail or swim on the back of a purple, spotted whale… But it’s not all about me… Children love animal characters in books too - just think about some of the most popular books of all time: ‘Paddington Bear’, ‘The Tiger That Went To Tea’, ‘Spot’, and ‘Dear Zoo’, to name a few. But why are animal characters so popular with children? I think there are many reasons but three stand out for me. Firstly, animals can’t speak. Yes, animals can make sounds but they can’t actually talk so in books we get to imagine what animals are really thinking or doing, which can be fanciful, absurd and plain ridiculous. Animals don’t have to be serious, lifelike or have a particular role, the remit is wide open and this can really capture a child’s imagination. Secondly, using animals allows us to forget everyday social structures; a dog can go to school and a child can be best friends with a rhinoceros. Animal characters allow us to take a break from reality and provide an escape from everyday life. They give a freedom to just have fun, what child doesn’t love that? Finally, I think animal characters work brilliantly in picture books because children can relate to them but they don’t draw direct comparisons from them. A child doesn’t worry if they can’t jump as high as a kangaroo or run as fast as a cheetah… animal characters are appealing to everyone. They can help us tackle issues of diversity and inclusion without being too serious or hard hitting. These reasons are why I use animal characters in my own books, I think they’re the perfect tool for making fun, inclusive and entertaining picture books. Happy Hooves, Yuk! is published by Fat Fox Books, £10.99 hardback You can follow Anna on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/abogieauthor/ Twitter - @ABogie Instagram - @a.bogie