Author chat: Serena Patel

Hi Serena! It’s great to be able to chat to you about your brilliant new book, Puppy Power. Were you allowed pets when you were growing up?

No, we never had any pets when I was a child. I was fascinated by animals in books but quite afraid in real life, as we never spent much time around them.

Pia’s parents are happily divorced. Why did you choose this type of family set-up for the story?

I grew up with divorced parents, which at the time was not very common in South Asian culture and very much seen as a negative thing. I wanted to write a family that reflects the reality for many children.

Emma Jane McCann’s illustrations are funny and frenetic – just like Luna the puppy! How closely did you collaborate with Emma on the visual style of the story?

Emma and I worked on my first series together, Anisha, Accidental Detective, so she knows my storytelling style really well and has always been great at bringing the books to life with her illustrations.

Anjali, Pia’s sister, is very creative. Can you tell us more about the rangoli, the Indian decorative art form that Anjali uses in her painting?

Rangoli patterns are vibrant, colourful designs, usually created on the floor or ground, using coloured rice, flour, sand or flower petals, often at festivals like Diwali.

Like Leo, I was scared of dogs as a child. What are your top tips for helping children overcome these fears?

I was afraid of dogs when I was a child, too, so I get it! What has started to work for me is spending small amounts of time with other people’s dogs and being introduced to them carefully and gently. That way, the dog feels comfortable, and I do too.

I also did an event recently with an amazing dog called Anya and her owner, Sarah, who volunteers with Therapy Dogs Nationwide. Meeting a trained therapy dog, if you ever get a chance, is an amazing way to reset the feelings of fear and anxiety around dogs.

Last but not least, Pia’s mum cooks pakoras, tandoori chicken and naan bread on her 9th birthday. What are your favourite party foods?

Ooh, well, there are so many! I do love samosas, pakoras, chicken and naan, but I also love a slice of pizza, a giant sharing bowl of crisps and, of course, cake!

Read our IBC review of Pia's Pet Club: Puppy Power here.

Pia's Pet Club: Puppy by Serenea Patel, illustrated by Emma Mcann and published by Usborne Books, is out now. Thanks to Serena and the publisher for kindly permitting us to reuse the book cover image for this blog post.

Janet Noble is a children’s librarian based in London, with 28 years’ experience. She has been a judge for the CILIP Carnegie Awards, the oldest and most prestigious children’s literature prize in the UK, both in 2019 and 2020, and chaired their panel of judges in 2023.