Parents and educators often struggle to find children's books that capture a child's imagination while teaching meaningful life lessons. In a world saturated with digital distractions, keeping young readers engaged requires stories that balance humor, relatable family dynamics, and heartfelt messages. Without early positive experiences with reading, children miss out on critical opportunities to build empathy, curiosity, and language skills.
Author Rhonda Bourn-Briggs addresses this challenge with her delightful Zacari book series, including titles like Zacari and Grandma, Zacari's Amazing Adventures, and The Closet Ate It!. Her stories bring everyday childhood experiences to life through warmth, humor, and strong family connections. In this interview, Bourn-Briggs shares the inspiration behind her work and discusses how thoughtful storytelling helps nurture a lifelong love for reading in young children.
Q: What inspired you to create the character of Zacari and center your book series around his daily adventures?
Rhonda Bourn-Briggs: I authored a book of poems back in 2015 as I was talking about that book with my family; my grandson Zacari was very interested and amazed that I had really written a book and he said grandma will you write a book for me. I thought about it and said yes! looking at the things kids do these days like spending so much time in doors playing video games all day and some never really experiences going out to play or having an adventure or two. Which led me to write my first children’s book Zacari’s Amazing Adventure, I wanted it to be whimsical and adventurous and from that one I wrote the 2 other books for him. Now I have written several more books for my other grandchildren which are special and dear to my heart!
Q: Family relationships, especially between grandchildren and grandparents, play a central role in your work. Cs)How do you incorporate these dynamics into your stories?
Rhonda Bourn-Briggs: Being a mother of 5 daughters and grandmother of 22 amazing grandchildren I have played a vital role in all their lives. We are a loving big happy close knit family and we share a strong bond. As a grandmother I feel especially blessed to have all of them. From our family dinners, to birthday celebrations whether we are near or far we will get on the phone or FaceTime all together to sing Happy Birthday to our loved ones on their birthdays, holidays festivities, and sharing life’s ups and down gives me plenty to write about!
Q: In books like The Closet Ate It!, you use humor and imagination to explore common childhood experiences. How does playful storytelling help children process their everyday world?
Rhonda Bourn-Briggs: With the Closet Ate It I tried to make cleaning Zacari’s room humorous since most kids don’t like cleaning their bedrooms and parents often stress about the process of checking to make sure the room has been cleaned properly. At times parents find things that they are surprised to find under beds, in drawers and in the closets.
Q: How do you ensure that your books remain engaging for young readers while delivering positive messages about curiosity and family values?
Rhonda Bourn-Briggs: I love having fun with my grandchildren, I use my imagination to see things as a child would see it! In my book Zacari and Grandma’s Fun in the Park, the book is based on an actually day we spent in the park together! Often times when I have conversations with my grandchildren we talk about all kinds of things. Their likes and dislikes, while they are candid sometimes I am not expecting what comes out of their mouths however, the conversation remain positive, courteous and respectful. And when confrontations arise we quickly resolve them because we value our family bond.
Q: What role do visual elements and pacing play in keeping early readers focused and excited about turning the page?
Rhonda Bourn-Briggs: Just the fact that it’s fun, visually appealing and the story flows. And I realized in writing it doesn’t have to always make perfect sense but it captures the imagination letting you know that any and all things are possible. In Zacari’s Amazing Adventures he see a door in his grandmother’s house he had never seen before which led him to have the time of his life!
Q: What main takeaway or feeling do you hope parents and children share when reading your books together?
Rhonda Bourn-Briggs: That my books make them smile and will bring some joy and happiness. That they are relatable and the children and parents and grandparents have fun reading them together and bring them closer that they will want to have their own adventures, laugh when the check their kid’s room and go to the closet to see what’s been hidden there and they will have their own fun in the park. That the parents and grandparents realize all the things they do with their children are making memories that will last a lifetime.
Connecting young readers with relatable, imaginative stories plays a vital role in early childhood development. By focusing on genuine family interactions and playful scenarios, author Rhonda Bourn-Briggs creates accessible narrative experiences that encourage shared reading between parents and children.
Fostering a passion for reading early in life builds a foundation for strong communication skills and emotional intelligence. Through her engaging series, Bourn-Briggs demonstrates how wholesome, fun storytelling can inspire young minds and strengthen family bonds.
Discover all books by Rhonda Bourn-Briggs on Amazon.
