Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Angela Toniolo!
We’re delighted to welcome debut picture book author, Angela Toniolo, to the blog to share her recent release; Mavis, the Little Plane Spotter. Mavis and Doreen, based on Angela’s grandmother and great-aunt respectively, are the names of the inspirational sisters behind the patriotic honour of spotting and notifying the Royal Australian Air Force of enemy planes during WW2. An honour that young Mavis in the story received for serving in the Volunteer Air Observers Corps in 1945. Angela’s narrative gently guides the reader through Mavis’s journey to becoming a plane spotter in an age-appropriate way, without denying the realities of living through wartime. From the clothing to the furnishings and little knick-knacks, Shannon Melville‘s gorgeous, bright pastel-toned and textured illustrations are suitably representative of the era. An exciting, uplifting and beautiful book that shows how a small action can ‘save the day’, if you just keep your ‘eyes on the skies’.
Thank you for sharing this remarkable story with us, Angela! 🙂
About the Author
Angela Toniolo lives in a place that is as beautiful as its name – Mount Beauty, in Victoria. Her passion lies in writing fun, feel-good picture books and junior fiction novels with messages of hope and happiness. When she’s not dreaming up stories inspired by the world around her, she can be found making a lot of noise on her drumkit or playing with her cat. She was runner-up in the 2022 Larrikin House Picture Book Manuscript Competition, longlisted in the 2022 Pitch It Competition, winner of the 2023 Book Pipeline Unpublished Picture Book Contest, and shortlisted in the 2024 Pitch It Competition. She has had four nonfiction articles published in The School Magazine and used to write for her local newspaper. Her first picture book, Mavis, The Little Plane Spotter, is due for release on March 5, 2025.
Please find Angela Toniolo at her website: https://angelatoniolo.com/ and on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Illustrator
Shannon Melville has found joy in creating and expressing herself in the visual arts since childhood, following in the footsteps of her artistic father. She grew up in Perth, Western Australia where she still lives with her husband, three delightful daughters and kelpie, Hugo.
Shannon has experience working as a book illustrator, school art teacher, disability arts worker and graphic designer. After time at home with her three daughters, she is currently working as a Primary Art Teacher and illustrator.
She illustrates with a wide range of both traditional and digital techniques.
Please find Shannon Melville on Instagram and Facebook.
Mavis, The Little Plane Spotter is available for purchase through Wombat Books.
WHO wrote, illustrated and published this book?
Mavis, The Little Plane Spotter is written by Angela Toniolo, illustrated by Shannon Melville and published by Wombat Books.
WHAT is it about?
Mavis, the Little Plane Spotter is about ten-year-old Mavis who wants to help the war effort at home but is too young. When she discovers she can volunteer alongside her older sister, she becomes a plane spotter. The girls keep an eye out for enemy aircraft every Saturday from their observation point in the town’s clock tower. One day, when her sister is home sick, Mavis spots an enemy bomber flying overhead. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens next!
What is your favourite part of this book?
There are too many! I love the cover, the end pages, the certificate! But if I had to narrow it down, I love Shannon’s illustration of the trench in the backyard and her wonderful attention to detail in the products of the 1940s.
WHEN did you begin writing this book?
I began writing this book in August 2020.
When is its release / launch date?
Mavis, The Little Plane Spotter will hit the shelves on March 5, 2025.
WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?
Mavis, The Little Plane Spotter was inspired by a radio interview with a 90 year old woman who was sharing her experiences as a child plane spotter in rural NSW during WWII. I’d never heard of plane spotters, so I jumped on the computer and discovered everything I could. My research led me to a story about the youngest WWII plane spotter in Australia, and that’s when I knew I’d found the perfect character for a picture book!
WHY is this book meaningful to you?
Not only does the book honour the child plane spotters of WWII, but it also allows me to pay tribute to my grandmother, who is the inspiration for Mavis.
Why would its message resonate with readers?
When I’ve talked about the story behind Mavis, The Little Plane Spotter, I’ve been really touched by people’s willingness to share their own family’s experiences during WWII. I appreciate the topic of conflict can be upsetting, but Mavis, The Little Plane Spotter also promotes resilience, community and volunteerism, and it is my hope that these resonate with readers long after they close the cover.
HOW do you feel about the illustrations / cover design? How do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?
The illustrator, Shannon Melville, did a wonderful job. It was like she had a window into my mind and captured the characters, places and time perfectly! When I saw the hydrangeas on the front cover, I cried with joy because they are one of my most vivid memories of my grandmother. I am truly grateful for Shannon’s intuitive understanding of the text.
How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?
Mavis, The Little Plane Spotter has been promoted on all my author platforms, and I’ve emailed a gazillion libraries, schools and bookshops! Next is getting a press release to local newspapers and radio stations to line up interviews. I also look forward to signing books at my launches in March and April and sharing the story with children everywhere. Mavis, The Little Plane Spotter can be pre-ordered from Wombat Books at https://wombatrhiza.com.au/mavis-the-little-plane-spotter/
Thanks so much for sharing your eye-opening book with us, Angela! 🙂
#thequicksixinterview #mavisthelittleplanespotter #worldwar2 #australianhistory #picturebook #justkidslit
