Interview of Jazz Money by Haylee Hackenberg
Sometimes picture books come along that are more than books; they are works of art. The Frog’s First Song, authored by award-winning Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money and illustrated by four-time Archibald Prize finalist Jason Phu, falls firmly in the work of art category. The book draws from Chinese parables and First Nations’ creation stories and culminates in a playful story about community that children and their grown-ups will find mesmerisingly beautiful. I spoke to Jazz Money about the creation of this incredible, unique book below.
Congratulations on The Frog’s First Song; it’s extraordinary. Can you tell me a little about what inspired the story?
Thank you! The story first came about after a conversation with Jason Phu, the illustrator, who was making an artwork about singing frogs a few years ago. We talked about scientific frog facts (frogs were the first terrestrial creatures to make a noise with their throat!) and about ancestral frog stories in Chinese mythology and Aboriginal Dreaming stories. I’ve also been really obsessed with the collective power of choirs for a few years, and all of these things, along with my friendship with Jason, fed into the story.
This is obviously a totally different format and genre from your other published work. Was this the first children’s book you wrote, and how did the process differ from your other work?
I’ve actually been working on a few children’s books over the years, but this is the first one to be finished! I really love the process, which is bringing together the rhythm and lyricism that I am used to with poetry, but in a concise and narrative form. I worked for a little while in early childhood education, and it was very fun and satisfying to bring some of my knowledge from that space into a literary form.
Naturally, Jason Phu’s illustrations are incredible. Were you consulted as part of the illustration process, or was it simply a matter of letting Jason work his magic?
We had lots of chats all throughout the process, and it felt very collaborative, but still full of surprises! Jason’s illustrations added so much more depth and charm, and meaning to the original story, and it was such a delight to see each new spread as they were finished.
What were the kinds of books you loved to read as a child?
I loved any book that rewarded close attention (I still do!). I recently bought ‘One Odd Old Owl’ for my daughter (who is much too young for it) because it was one of my childhood favourites, and the illustrations and rhymes were just as silly, extravagant and richly layered as I remembered.
