Chances are that almost every kid you know has a Sandra Boynton book in their personal library.
And soon to be among them is her newest picture bookWoo Hoo!
You’re Doing Great!
Author Sandra Boynton and her new book, ‘Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great’.Robin Marchant/Getty Images; Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Can you tell us a little about the creation of the book?
SANDRA BOYNTON: It’s kind of a wild story.
And I always illustrate my posts.
Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso.Apple TV +
So on Sept. 12, 2021, I decided to post something for National Day of Encouragement.
I came up with a very shouty chicken saying “WOO HOO!
YOU’RE DOING GREAT!”
The deluge of responses floored me varied and heartfelt and astonishing.
That chance WOO HOO!
post is what provided the title, cover art, and official spokeschicken of this book.
What do you want kids to take away from the book?
I very much hope that the refrain “Woo hoo!
You’re doing great!”
will stay with little people and big people alike.
What is your process for your work?
Do you start writing or drawing first?
The writing and drawing are oddly simultaneous.
That way, I can fool myself into believing the book already exists.
What are you working on now?
I’m recreating the entirePhiladelphia Chickensbook for release this fall in a spiffy super deluxe 21st-anniversary edition.
Right before this past Christmas, we released my handmade animation of the first track.
It’s a nifty new doo-wop song calledSnow, Snow, Snow!
My favorite book as a child
Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight’sEloise.
The last book that made me laugh
Chez Bobby Bob Shea.
The sly, spare writing and the glorious illustrations and the theatrical synergy of the two are absolutely perfect.
The last book that made me cry
Howards Endby E. M. Forster.
A book I consider grossly overrated
Ack, I can’t think of one!
A classic that I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never read
James Joyce’sUlysses.
Though I did try.
My favorite fictional hero
Horatio Hornblower, or perhaps Pippi Longstocking.
My all-time favorite movie
Miracle on 34th Street.
My last TV binge
Ted Lasso.
Such a smart, complex, compassionate, funny, and poignant show.
The song that always makes me feel better
Del Shannon’sRunaway.
It pulls my attention I become more interested in the music than in what I’m doing.
The book I wish I’d written
David Copperfield.
Or maybeGeorge and Martha.
Or both, just to shake things up.
The book I think is the gold standard for kids' books
Sendak’sWhere the Wild Things Are.
What I’m reading now
Leave It to Psmithby P. G. Wodehouse.
Though I suspect they’re not exactly party people.
We could just sit in companionable silence.
Maybe listen to Fred Astaire records.
