For over thirty years, celebrated children’s author Natasha Wing has been writing books that help children face the anticipation of — and get excited for — some of the most notable days of their lives: the first day of kindergarten, a visit to the dentist, dance recitals, summer camp, and more. The Night Before series boasts over forty titles and several Spanish-language translations, with millions of copies sold. She’s also published a variety of biographical titles, aimed at teaching kids about figures such as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Josef Albers, and Elizabeth Berrien. We had the chance to speak with Natasha on what drives her passion for creating books for children. Read on to find out what she had to say!
About Natasha Wing
Natasha Wing has published 55 children’s books, with more in the works. Her latest release is The Wire Zoo (2024). Some of her titles include The Night Before Kindergarten, which has sold more than 2.5 million copies and has regularly been on bestseller lists since its publication in 2001. The Night Before Halloween has sold more than 800,000 copies. Wing’s multicultural book, Jalapeño Bagels, is a favorite among elementary school teachers and students. The story is based on a real bakery in Arcata, California, and includes recipes from the bakery. The book is about a mixed family that is Jewish and Mexican.
An Eye for Color: The Story of Josef Albers, is about a neighbor of hers when she was growing up in Connecticut, who, as the artist of the “Homage to the Square” paintings, studied color for 27 years, changing how teachers taught color. When Jackie Saved Grand Central is a narrative nonfiction about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s fight to save the famous train terminal in New York City. The book received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus, is a Colorado Authors’ League winner, and is also published in Chinese.
Several of her poems appear in anthologies, and she has also written joke books as well as articles for children’s magazines such as Highlights and Babybug. Natasha lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her husband, Dan, and cat, Purrsia. She collects squished pennies and loves hiking and champagne.
Thank you for talking with us, Natasha! Let’s get started!
For any readers unfamiliar with your books, can you give an elevator pitch for your work? What kinds of stories do you create?
The Night Before series celebrates holidays, school, and big events in kids’ lives. I also like to write little-known biographies of little-known people.
What or who was the inspiration behind The Night Before series?
The inspiration is The Night Before Christmas. It was one of my favorite childhood Christmas stories since I liked the lead-up to and anticipation of Christmas more than Christmas Day.
You’ve been crafting tales for young minds for over three decades. What enduring qualities of children’s literature have remained constant, even as the world around us has changed? How have you incorporated these timeless elements into your work?
I think the enduring qualities are seeing oneself in a character and reassurance. In The Night Before series, I typically have an anxious moment that gets resolved in a creative way, which gives the message that everything’s going to be okay in the end.
You’ve taken on the task of representing cultures and identities that are often underrepresented in children’s literature. What obstacles have you faced in ensuring your stories are both accurate and engaging?
I write a series that includes many holidays and celebrations across cultures and religions. The challenge is that I am not all of the diverse people and religions that I write about. Writers have the superpower of empathy and putting themselves in other people’s shoes. I have empathy, plus I do research, conduct interviews, and work with cultural consultants to make sure details are accurate.
How has collaborating with cultural consultants enriched your writing process? What have you learned about incorporating diverse perspectives into your stories?
I enjoy collaborating because the consultants bring their experience of a holiday to the story. It’s the personal details that make a story more heart-warming and engaging. I learn even more about the holiday than I would by Googling. In the brainstorming process, we always come up with a fresh take that gets me even more excited to write the story.
As a writer, what have you learned from interacting with the children in your life? How have these experiences helped you connect with young readers on a deeper level?
I don’t have any children, but I have friends that do. A few stories have been inspired by things kids have told their parents that the parents have shared with me. It helps me see things through a child’s eye rather than filtered through my adult brain.
Are there any children’s authors whose work you particularly admire? Can you share a favorite book and why it resonates with you?
The Polar Express was the book that sparked my interest in writing for children. I loved the illustrations and the feeling that you were entering a timeless classic.
We give our immense thanks to Natasha for taking the time to talk about her work with us! Be sure to check out her website at NatashaWing.com and follow her on Instagram at @natashawing for updates on The Night Before series and all of her other wonderfully inspiring children’s books.
To read about more picture books perfect for the holidays, click here.
To check out our recommendations for mini-bookworms, click here.
