Boundaries by Millie by Jo Smoak
The purpose of children’s books is to teach kids lessons through entertaining stories at an early age. That way, when they become young adults, they might be able to better navigate some of life’s curveballs. One such lesson is establishing boundaries and the importance of the word “no.” Jo Smoak, author of Boundaries by Millie (Gatekeeper Press), is here to instruct readers of every age how to both enforce and respect boundaries.
In our talk with Smoak, we learn the unexpected origin of Boundaries by Millie, and what’s next on her writing to-do list. Continue reading to find out!
Q: How did the idea for Boundaries by Millie first come about?
A: The idea came about from a real life donkey named Millie. I observed her and noticed she really knows how to communicate no when she doesn’t want to do or like something. I thought she’d be a great way to help teach children about boundaries through the life of a donkey. I was personally not taught boundaries as a child and wish I had been.
Q: What motivated you to write a children’s book?
A: I feel it’s important to teach children starting at a young age about boundaries. I hope this book is a good resource for that for parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers, therapists, social workers, etc.
Q: What do you hope readers will take away from Boundaries by Millie?
A: My hope is that more children will learn boundaries to help set them up to be healthier adults so that they don’t have to learn them as an adult like I did.
Q: What’s next on your list?
A: I have another children’s book started about a raccoon on a quest to find food. Also, I have a follow up book started to my recently published book: Letters from a Trauma Survivor by my pen name Recovery Ryder. Its theme will be how I went from victim to survivor. I’m not sure when I’ll get these finished though.
Q: Bonus question — if you were an animal, what animal would you be?
A: If I were an animal, I would be a horse. I feel a sense of freedom when I ride a horse. They’re very majestic, beautiful and strong.
Jo Smoak is an avid crafter and animal lover. She enjoys the outdoors, being with her dogs and spending time with children. She thinks that having and establishing boundaries with others is important and shares how boundaries are created in her book, Boundaries with Millie.
