In this interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Crystal Beach, the talented author and illustrator behind a heartwarming series of children’s books. Crystal’s work is deeply personal, drawing from her experiences as an adoptive mother of two daughters with complex medical needs and disabilities. Her books feature messages of inclusivity, support, and understanding. Today, Crystal shares with us the inspiration behind her work, the significance of her art, and how her journey has shaped her mission to create books that resonate with and support children who face similar challenges.
Crystal, can you tell us what inspired you to write and illustrate your first book, “One Polar Bear”?
I wanted to write a story that would help children feel seen and supported when they are sick, unwell or are living with a disability. I have two adopted daughters who have multiple complex illnesses and disabilities. I wanted to write a story to help kids like them feel cared for, supported by their friends and family and included. Featuring animals with bandages, casts, wheelchairs, NG tubes, canes, prosthetics, and such, was a nod to my daughter’s differences and to all children with disabilities and complex medical conditions. It is my hope that readers, especially those with disabilities, will connect with One Polar Bear’s story and his friends and find a book that is truly inclusive.
If you can be anything, be inclusive.
Your books often feature animals from the Canadian Arctic. What draws you to this particular setting and its wildlife?
Well, being Canadian certainly is a major aspect in my choice to highlight Canada’s Arctic animals. When people think of Canada one of the first animals that come to mind is polar bears. Plus where I live it does get really cold for about half the year. And there’s a lot of snow. I thought it would be great to showcase what we have to offer and educate kids throughout the world while we have some fun. There are so many amazing animals that endure Canadian winters that people don’t really know alot about.
I also have a great big 130 pound pure white Great Pyrenees dog. He follows me everywhere. He is one of our service dogs. He reminds me alot of a polar bear and he was a major inspiration in bringing polar bears out as main characters in all of my stories.
Can you share more about the significance of featuring the word “welcome” in different languages in “One Polar Bear”?
When I was thinking about what else was unique to Canada, I realized it was also our diverse culture. Reflecting diversity in my work is a major goal for me and it can be represented in so many ways- through culture, gender, physical and medical diversity etc. I thought of how many different people and languages make up our beautiful Canada and then I researched the top ten languages spoken in Canada and included the word welcome in each of those languages. I’ve continued to include this language theme in my other books with a different word each time.
In “Two Polar Bears,” you introduce early learning skills such as bedtime routines and grooming. What inspired you to include these elements in your book?
Both my children have developmental disabilities. I thought about how much easier it is to remember to do things if you have pictures and sight words as visual reminders. I thought it could be great fun and motivation to learn hygiene and grooming if the pictures were funny and therefore memorable. My goal is for there to always be multiple take-aways from each book I write that can provide enrichment and joy to the reader.
Your latest book, “One Little Witch,” explores counting and sight words with a fun Halloween theme. What inspired this story and its educational focus?
First I thought it would be fun to explore numbers and subtraction instead of counting up this time.
But mostly, my oldest daughter inspired this story. She absolutely love love loves Halloween. Her bedroom is decorated Halloween all year. Halloween blankets and collectables and sweaters and jewelry. She wanted to grow many pumpkins and has successfully done so. Last fall she collected about 30 pumpkins from her little garden. This summer she has been very sick with kidney disease. While she was in the hospital her dad built her a beautiful bed for her pumpkins with lights and glowing eyeballs. In the story you can see that the little witch is wearing ear defenders and a medical alert bracelet. We also added a IV port for medication as she sometimes needs an IV and I thought many kids with kidney disease might recognize it because they might have implanted IV ports permanently. My goal is for every child with an illness or disability to be able to see themselves somewhere in one of my books.
Your work often highlights individuals with a variety of abilities and disabilities. Why do you think it’s important to showcase differences in your books?
A famous psychologist Carl Rogers once said, “what is most personal is most universal.” These stories and characters and their differences are a reflection of my own life. My own children both have disabilities and very complex illnesses. I just got married recently after many years as a single parent, shortly after, my husband was diagnosed with an aggressive form of primary progressive multiple sclerosis. This is my lived experience. My personal experience is actually a universal experience that many other people may be experiencing as well. I don’t want these other people to feel alone in the world. I want them to know that there are others like them, living courageously and shining brightly through our struggles doing our best in the world, even though it’s tough, and that they can too.
I also believe it’s so very important for every human to be seen by others. This helps people with all differences be included. It’s also important to see yourself in our day-to-day culture. This helps people with differences gain a sense of belonging. And belonging is really what we are trying to achieve for everyone. Because when you belong, you will never feel alone.
How do your own experiences as an adoptive mother and caregiver to children with complex medical needs influence your writing and illustrations? Strongly. Emotionally. Compassionately. I am driven because of the experiences that have shaped me and my life with my family to provide stories that will bring meaning to other children’s lives. My children have been and will always be my world. They are my reason for getting up in the morning. My reason for living. They are my passion. And through my passion for writing and illustrating, I have a deep desire to leave behind something beautiful for them, for the children who are reading today, and I hope for the children of the future. I have no other legacy to provide for my girls so I hope that in some way my stories can provide for them when I am no longer here, both emotionally and financially. I also hope that my stories will continue to provide joy, education and inclusivity messages for generations of children to come.
What’s next for you? Are there any new projects or books that you’re currently working on that you can share with us?
Well, there’s always something bubbling on top of my stove! I have about 20 books completed and ready for taste testing. I plan to work on publishing with my team on 5 year and 10 year plans. I don’t think I will ever stop writing and illustrating. Right now my passion and creativity is bursting and I can hardly be still enough before I move on to the next book. There are two series running concurrently. The Polar Bear series and The Little Witch series. There are also a few stand-alone books that don’t have a place in the publishing line-up just yet. Next year I hope to see One Little Troll come out in time for Halloween. This book is for my youngest daughter and would be Book 2 in The Little Witch series. I also hope to see Three Dancing Polar Bears, which is a Christmas book and Book 3 in The Polar Bear series out in late fall. Both books excite me so much I can’t wait to get them out to readers. Even though I have completed some books and am working several books ahead for years down the road, the newest releases are always so super exciting when they finally make it into book form and onto the market.
Thank you for your interest in my work, life, and my family, and for taking the time to speak with me. We are grateful for the opportunity and the chance to promote my books. 💗
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