Interview with Award Winning Children's Author/Singer, Craig Smith

Craig Smith, the author of 'The Wonky Donkey' has children singing his catchy tunes all over Australia. The phenomenal success of  'The Wonky Donkey' has awarded it the biggest selling picture book in Australia in 2010 and 2011. 

I was lucky enough to see Craig perform at my local library as he currently tours around Australia. He's here to promote another picture book, All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth, in which he has recorded the accompany CD. 


I'd organised a few days earlier to interview Craig on my blog to which he politely agreed. Needless to say, I was thrilled to chat with him.

Congratulations on the huge success of your picture book and CD, The Wonky Donkey. What has this experience been like for you?

It has exceeded all expectation. The first print run was 3,500  books and the print run now is 340,000.

What inspired you to write, The Wonky Donkey? 

The old joke: What do you call a three legged donkey?

A Wonky Donkey!

How long had you been performing before you received your first book contract?

I'd been performing to children at markets and festivals for approximately four years and parents would often ask me,'Do you have a CD that I can buy?' 'No, I don't,' I'd reply. And they'd walk off.
 
Previous to that, like many musicians, I'd performed in pubs and clubs for about ten years. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Nothing specific, other then watching the kids really enjoy my work. The Wonky Donkey received 'APRA Children's Song of the Year Award' in 2008 and 'The Children's Book Award' in 2010, but the highlight for me is watching the kids have fun!

How did your latest book, All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth, come about?


It's always been one of my favourite Christmas song because my mum used to sing it to me when I was a kid. It was originally written by Don Gardner and Scholastic Books had bought the rights. It also fit  well with a song I'd already written called 'Toothless' which is also on the accompanying CD.


What's Next?

 I'm self publishing a children's book called, Kaha the Kea. 'Kea' is a New Zealand bird and 'Kaha' means strong. I'm also working on another picture book called, The House that Wonky Built.'

Author of 'The Wonky Donkey' Craig Smith Tours Australia

I'm so excited to be seeing Craig Smith, the author of the current number one best-selling picture book in Australia, The Wonky Donkey, perform tomorrow at 1:30 pm at the Helensvale Library on the Gold Coast.

  

Craig Smith is a singer/songwriter and was the co-winner of the APRA Children’s Song of the Year award in 2008 for this song The Wonky Donkey which was later published as a picture book by Scholastic.

The picture book, The Wonky Donkey has had phenomenal success. In Australia, The Wonky Donkey as sold more than 250,000 copies making it the biggest-selling picture book in Australia in 2010 and 2011.  The book’s popularity continues to drive its success by currently hitting number one again as the best-selling picture book in Australia.

Craig is touring Australia to help promote another picture book, All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth, in which he has recorded the accompany CD.

"It's vital to make reading fun whether it's through funny illustrations, cheeky rhymes and a rollicking rhythm. I firmly believe that the marriage of song, word and illustration help children learn to read by offering a visual, kinesthetic, and aural experience", say Smith.

Smith has also penned another picture book with CD titled Willbee the Bumblebee, also released by Scholastic. Willbee the Bumblebee is based on a childhood story told by his mother, who is the co-author. And like The Wonky Donkey, Craig turned it into a song.



All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth which is written by Don Gardner with CD performed by Craig Smith. This Christmas classic is portrayed in the book as a poor monkey with two front teeth missing! The Tooth detective is on the case, but maybe Santa can help. All Monkey wants for Christmas is his two front teeth! The sing-along CD is sensationally performed by Craig Smith with a bonus original track titled, Toothless! 

So, if you're a children's book lover or your children love listening to books and music, then don't miss this wonderful opportunity to see Craig Smith as he tours Australia.

Stay tuned for Craig's interview on Books for Little Hands this Saturday.

Here's Craig's tour dates, just in time for Christmas.

Brisbane           Tuesday 1 November - Friday 4 November

Melbourne        Saturday 5 November - Wednesday 9 November

Sydney                        Thursday 10 November - Saturday 12 November