I am so happy to feature my friend, Dara Henry, on the blog today! Her latest book, MAZEL TOV BABY, illustrated by Varda Livney, releases from Sourcebooks Kids on September 16th! Dara chats about her inspiration for this interactive lift-the-flap board book, and also shares about stories . . . creativity . . . and connection. Welcome, Dara!
1. STORIES – Discuss the inspiration for your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects.
Storytime with my children has always been one of my favorite daily routines, even now as my kids are getting older. When they were really young, our favorite stories involved books that we could interact with together. Thinking back to those moments became my inspiration and shaped my goal when writing MAZEL TOV, BABY! I hoped to create a book that would help facilitate shared play and connection between young readers and caregivers.
2. CREATIVITY — How do you showcase your creative side through writing/illustrating and other pursuits?
I really enjoy being creative. Creating characters is probably one of my favorite ways I like to showcase my creative side while writing. Coming up with personalities, backgrounds, and motivations that are not just believable, but are unique takes a lot of creativity. But even after the character is created, using creativity helps connect ideas and makes a story come together.
Outside of writing, I love finding ways to be creative. One way I express this is through crafts. I especially love doing projects with my kids. Last year, to celebrate the launch of my debut picture book, HANUKKAH PAJAMAKKAHS, we focused on all kinds of creative holiday projects, such as decorating pajamas. I’ve also been known to make centerpieces for parties and events, even costumes—whatever the moment calls for. I’m also a baker and used to make tiered cakes for birthdays. I don’t always have time for that anymore, but I still like finding creative outlets in everyday life.
3. CONNECTION — How do you connect to your young readers through your writing/illustrating, and how do you stay connected to the KidLit community?
I love connecting with young readers and families through writing. One of the most rewarding parts of being an author is getting to meet children and families who read my books. For this reason, events at bookstores and schools are such a fun part of being an author. It provides a little taste of one aspect I miss most about teaching in a classroom.
Staying connected to the KidLit community is important to me. I’m part of writing groups, marketing groups, and critique groups where we share work, cheer each other on, and offer honest feedback. There’s something really special about being surrounded by other writers. They understand the ups and downs of the industry and the creative process. Plus along the way, I’ve made many wonderful friends.
DARA’S BIO:
Dara Henry is a children’s book author living in Southern California. She has a master’s degree in elementary education and worked as an elementary school teacher for many years. While she no longer has a classroom of her own, Dara still finds joy in connecting with children and families—only now, she’s sharing her stories while visiting classrooms and bookstores all over the country. Dara’s debut picture book, Hanukkah Pajamakkahs (Sourcebooks Kids), was published in 2024. Her second book, Mazel Tov, Baby! (Sourcebooks Kids), will be out in the world as of September 16, 2025. She’s honored and excited to share her stories with readers.
CONNECT WITH DARA: