Thompson Rivers University English professor George Johnson has published his third children’s book, Sophia’s Secrets.
“Sophia shares her secrets, from sneaky to toothy to hopeful, in delightful ways, including whispering one to the breeze and dropping another into a puddle, but the best way is to share one with her brother,” Johnson told KTW.
While Johnson spends his time teaching creative writing and modern literature at Thompson Rivers University, and often produces screenplays and books, children’s books have been a favourite pastime.
His wife, Nina, often co-writes when the family is not busy canoeing, camping or cross-country skiing.
Some of Johnson’s previous children’s books include How Hope Became An Activist, which was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Awards Montaigne Medal, awarded to authors of thought-provoking books.
It was later translated into Arabic for international sales.
Johnson also published Marisa and the Mountains, which was a finalist in the Chocolate Lily Book Awards in B.C., as well as a finalist in the San Francisco Writers Conference Content.
In 2021, Marisa in the Mountains was chosen among books included in the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Books for Kids.
Johnson’s latest book has an intimate connection.
“It’s a personal story for me since the Spanish illustrator, Sara Casilda, used pictures of our daughter, Sophia, and our son, Ben, in the illustrations — and it’s based on Sophie’s actual childhood secrets, such as when she started loving broccoli,” Johnson said.
“We thought we had made progress until we smelled something weird at the kitchen table. To our surprise, we discovered that for some time she had been stashing broccoli under the table ledge where she sat. Now she has just turned 19 and she fully endorses the project.”
For more information about Johnson, go online to georgemjohnson.com/54-2.
