In Tonya Simpson’s new heartwarming picture book, If You Make a Mosom Tea, a boy spends time with Mosom, his grandfather, helping him while he shares his stories and Knowledge. Read on to hear from the author about how her own mosom inspired the sweet story.
What inspired you to write If You Make a Mosom Tea?
My mosom came for an unexpected visit on a cold winter day a few years ago. He was driving less at that time, so it was quite a special surprise. My son, Todd, was so excited to see him, and we made him a warm tea. He shared many stories with my son, who was showing Mosom his toys and making him smile. Soon after, Mosom, my husband and my son were outside wandering through the bushes. It warmed my heart to see Mosom teaching them about plants, sharing his land-based knowledge and passing down his memories. Watching them through the window made me reflect on the special gifts that grandchildren and grandparents have for each other.
The narration mimics the style of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. What inspired you to adapt the format with a new story told through an Indigenous lens?
I love this question. When I was watching my son and Mosom, I could see Todd bouncing around in the snow, and I worried about whether Mosom could keep up with him. At the same time, Mosom needed help navigating through the snowy bushes with his cane, and I was grateful my husband was there to help them both. It takes a bit of time and patience to help the youngest and oldest in our lives to be a part of a family adventure, no matter how small, but the effort is worthwhile because these moments are so important. The scene reminded me of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, which was a family favorite growing up. I thought that the light, playful style was well-suited for this story and would feel familiar to parents and kids who have read that book. It’s also different from the poetic style that I tend to gravitate toward, which was refreshing.
What did your writing process look like for If You Make a Mosom Tea? Was the process different than when you wrote This Land Is a Lullaby or Forever Our Home?
The process for writing If You Make a Mosom Tea was very different than my former books, which are more poetic in nature. In my earlier books, I tried to think about how to capture the sensations that demonstrate the relationship between land and people. However, in this book, I had to think about the tendencies of my son and Mosom. I kept thinking, what would my son want to do next? My mosom is a natural storyteller, and trying to capture his love for sharing his memories was fun. Really, drafting this book was more like capturing the roadmap of a typical family visit and communicating the power of those small daily moments.
If You Make a Mosom Tea shows the beauty of intergenerational relationships. Why was this an important theme for you to include in your book?
I think that now—possibly more than ever—people are experiencing a sense of loneliness. I’m not sure if it’s due to changes in how we form and maintain community, or that we’ve reshaped the family home, or that we have become busier and tech has moved us farther away from valuable, in-person interactions. It’s probably all of it and more. This book is an attempt to bridge that growing distance and remind us of our roots and social needs.
Do you have a favorite section or illustration in the book?
I enjoy the entire book, but my favorite page is the one where Mosom and the grandson are sharing their stories about how they play. Play is so universal and important. The chance to live with a wide-open imagination and enjoy the wonderment of discovery is such a beautiful, magical experience!
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Children’s books are such a beautiful place to spark family conversations. It is my hope that when families read If You Make a Mosom Tea, they reach out to the family and friends that they haven’t seen in a while. Have some tea and a little visit, and step into each other’s lives for an afternoon!
Tonya Simpson is of Scottish and Cree ancestry. She is a member of Pasqua First Nation and was born and raised in central Alberta. Tonya is an anthropologist who loves to write stories that connect families with each other and the natural world around them. She is the author of Forever Our Home and This Land Is a Lullaby, winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award. Tonya lives with her family at Pigeon Lake in Westerose, Alberta.
