Photo from IG Live Conversation on June 1, 2021

What is better than a barking piece of toast who just wants to be a dog? It’s this kind of kid-centered, laugh-out-loud writing that makes TOASTY such a gem! Thank you Sarah Hwang for joining me to talk about your hysterical *and* heartwarming debut picture book.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:
🍞How moving from South Korea to the United States at a young age helped Sarah eventually embrace her Asian American identity and inspire this story
🍞The random burst of inspiration that emerged during her breakfast one morning when she realized her piece of toast looked just like how she drew dogs as a child
🍞The constant unknowns around rejection in publishing and finding the perfect home with @holidayhousebks
🍞How this exactly perfect twist ending came to be— including many a failed ending (I love you, Toasty the Ghosty!!!)
🍞Why kid logic > adult logic
🍞Sarah’s mission to create experiences, not just static stories, for the whole family to celebrate

I hope you will join me in supporting this recent release by snagging your own copy, leaving reviews and/or requesting it from your local library! And while you’re at it, check out Sarah’s board book coming out in November called NOM, NOM, NOM. It’s as adorable as it sounds 🙂

And don’t forget to check out @forever21pbs for more of our debut picture book love ❤️

(Conversation held on June 1, 2021 on IG Live @carolinepritchardwrites)