Isla Fisher talks about writing children’s books

When I had my nails done on Saturday I went for yellow nail polish, feeling summery and happy. I got a tad worried when I was informed it was the first time a customer had chosen the colour. But today I had to smile when I noticed I wasn’t the only one with bright nails.

I met the wonderful Isla Fisher in a rooftop suite at The Marylebone Hotel and she too had yellow nail polish. She was wearing a white t-shirt that read ‘She She’, red high-waisted, cropped trousers and black heels. It would have been impossible to guess the beautiful Australian actress was a busy mum – at least until she started talking about LA carpooling, volunteering at school, and finding inspiration for book writing from being surrounded by children.

Isla is not like any other mum. She juggles her Hollywood career with a filled schedule that includes writing children’s books – sometimes from a car. The most impressive part is not how she does it though. It’s the quality.

Her latest book, Marge and the Great Train Rescue (Piccadilly Press, £5.99), had us captivated from page 1, and I’ve already been online to order the other two books in the series. Isla’s children’s books follow the adventures of seven-year-old Jemima and four-year-old Jakey when their crazy babysitter Marge is in charge. Marge has rainbow-coloured hair, regularly bends the rules and takes the children on unexpected and funny experiences. “The motto of the book is don’t try to be perfect or you’ll miss out on all the fun, and that’s ultimately what Marge is trying to teach Jemima,” said Isla.

Marge and the Great Train Rescue is split into three stories, and it’s the type of book I love reading for Big Girl–and the type of book I would want her to read on her own when she gets into chapter books.

When I met Isla, she talked about the fact that it can be challenging to find really funny books that are appropriate for children aged five to seven. In fact, the thinking behind the Marge series was to cater for “the transitional phase” when children may not be ready socially and emotionally for books by great authors like Roald Dahl, she explained. “I wanted something that’s great to read, but doesn’t push them beyond their years,” she said.

And that’s why these hilarious and sweet books are worth checking out!

Read more about my interview with Isla Fisher on the blog in the coming weeks

Tags: Actress, Books, Children's books, Interview, Isla Fisher, Marge in Charge, Reading