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The Inspiration for TEACH YOUR GIRAFFE TO SKI by Viviane Elbee

10/27/2017

6 Comments

 
Picture
My debut book is titled TEACH YOUR GIRAFFE TO SKI. A cautious little boy and a thrill-seeking giraffe hit the ski slopes. Whoa - better TEACH YOUR GIRAFFE TO SKI! A little boy attempts to distract his giraffe from the big scary slope by teaching her ski basics on the safe bunny hill.

I got the idea for a ski story during my family’s very first ski trip, which coincided with the 2014 Winter Olympics. My kindergartner and preschooler helped pack, so a menagerie of stuffed animals joined us on the trip.

During the day, the kids were learning to ski, and in the evening, we would watch the Olympics. The kids thought it would be awesome to join the Olympics. The stuffed animals were also highly interested in winter sports - they wanted to be “jumping ski champions” and were sliding down pillows and leaping through the air. My husband and I started making lot of jokes about the skiing giraffe, which made our kids laugh.

After we came home from that trip, I wrote (and revised) several different stories featuring a skiing giraffe. I took the story I liked best to an SCBWI conference critique session and shared it with a fabulous editor, Annie Nybo. She encouraged me to submit the story to her.
 
I hope you will enjoy this tale about a little boy and his giraffe’s first adventure together on the ski slopes. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to try a new adventure of your own.

​Thank you for reading this post!
 
Viviane Elbee
TEACH YOUR GIRAFFE TO SKI by Viviane Elbee
Albert Whitman & Company, Fall 2018
www.VivianeElbee.com
6 Comments
Lisa Robinson link
10/27/2017 05:34:55 am

Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to read this hilarious book!

Reply
Cathy
10/27/2017 01:02:42 pm

So excited fir you Viviane! It is an adorable story. Can just imagine the great illustrations you'll have. Do you know who the illustrator is yet? Cathy

Reply
Cindy Johnson link
10/29/2017 06:30:36 am

What a fun story! Can hardly wait to read the book!

Reply
Jessie Oliveros
10/29/2017 07:50:07 pm

This sounds so cute! I love the idea of a giraffe on skis!!

Reply
Kate Narita link
11/11/2017 09:22:23 am

Wish this book would have been around when my boys were younger! Love it!

Reply
Ginny Neil link
8/17/2018 06:39:56 am

Thanks for sharing how you came to it. I always love hearing how others got their debut picture book. It gives me hope.

Reply



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