Hong Kong Culture: JRP Borthwick
Interview with JRP Borthwick: Author of Punks & Lubby: Explorers What Does Mummy Do at Work?
Christopher KL Lau
Up and coming Hong Kong based author, JRP Borthwick, is adding a new angle to his children's books which explores the world of adults and work.
In these modern times, children are growing up much faster and the gap between childhood and working life is now much shorter, especially as the world becomes more technologically advanced.
Borthwick's debut book Punks & Lubby: Explorers What Does Mummy Do at Work? explores the world of adults and their daily routine and how children perceive adults and their jobs around them. The book provides another unique perspective of Hong Kong's fascinating daily life.
In an exclusive interview, JRP Borthwick describes the concept of his book (and future books), what his inspiration is and how children's books are changing.
Interview
What is the premise of your book, Punks & Lubby: Explorers What Does Mummy Do at Work?
Explorers is about two little girls who love exploring the world in which we live. They explore what people do, they explore the places we go and where we live, they explore everything. In this first book in the Punks & Lubby series they follow their mummy to work. Pretty much everything is based on real life with the odd pinch of salt. Mummy does work in Kowloon but she doesn't actually take the Star Ferry to work. In fact, I am the one that takes the Star Ferry to work. I am old skool (with a "k")!
Where did the inspiration come from? Who is your muse?
Explorers as a concept came about on a Saturday morning as my wife and I were out walking in the hills around Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong. We were talking about the idea of creating children's books that focused on what people did at work. We were joking that it could be a way of kids to learn vocab that they may not otherwise learn. Every child pretty quickly learns "dog", "zebra" and "lion", but maybe not "calculator", "stapler" and "excel spread sheet". I decided, however, that the first ever incarnation of the concept would follow Punks and Lubby's mummy as she went to work in the office. Therefore we don't look at a specific role or job like accountant, lawyer, judge, astronaut, waiter, comedian etc, we simply start with the idea of going to work at the office. I see it as Punks and Lubby's soft launch!
Punks & Lubby are real people... I see them each and every day!
What sets this children's book apart from all other children's books?
I really wanted to create a children's book concept that enabled kids to learn about things and places that they may not otherwise learn about and in a way that is different. I thought: wouldn't it be cool for a mummy or daddy to be able to sit down with a kids' book that is all about going to work so that they could show their children what they get up to during the day. You know, like having a working lunch, going to a presentation, having a conference call, working on the computer or writing emails. This kind of stuff dominates so many of our daily lives but so many of our kids have absolutely no idea about this side of what we get up to during the day!
As the world becomes seemingly more chaotic, is it time for children's books to become more 'realistic' or should children still be shielded away from reality?
I think that it is all about reading and holding and loving real books. That's the important thing: getting parents interacting with their children over a book and getting kids into books. Learning about real things is great but at the same time imagining, dreaming and letting your mind wander are vital for the imagination and general development. There is a place for all children's books, from classic fairy tales, to modern stories and books about real everyday things and places, like Punks & Lubby love discovering!
You grew up in Hong Kong and have a third culture background. Does this give you an unique insight into the world and does this come across in your writing?
Hmmmm, some people would question whether I ever did in fact grow up. I am really not sure about this one. Maybe a different insight, but possibly not unique. Dunno, you tell me.
As this is a series of books, what will your next stories cover?
The next one is going to be a roller coaster adventure with plenty of thrills and spills, a rag tag group of outsiders fighting to prove their innocence, numerous high-speed car chases, a bit of BASE jumping and plenty of crazy pixies. Just kidding.. sort of. I am actually currently working on one that sees Punks & Lubby explore Hong Kong, but for kids. It is taking ages though and I am driving my current publisher crazy. What ya gonna do though, the day job has to come first... at least until Punks & Lubby take Hollywood by storm! (or something like that...)
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