About Amy
Amy Foos Kapoor is a children’s book author whose debut picture book, Into the Blue: A Counting Adventure, sparks young imaginations with its beachy counting fun. With an MFA from Spalding University’s Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing, she weaves stories inspired by family adventures. Amy lives in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, two sons, and two corgis.
Author Q & A: Students Ask Amy!
Where did the idea come from for the book, Into the Blue: A Counting Adventure?
Our Florida beach trips inspired Into the Blue. My sons loved spotting dolphins, seagulls, and stingrays, collecting shells, and asking about underwater animals. They’d want to go to bookstores or libraries to learn more about the sea animals. Their adventurous spirit and curiosity about the ocean’s wonders inspired this counting adventure book.
Why do you write children’s books?
Reading to my sons when they were little inspired me to write fun books that spark kids’ love for learning. Some their favorite books were Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer, The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss, and series like The Berenstain Bears and Pete the Cat. I loved reading them all, too.
Did you enjoy children’s books when you were young? What books did you like?
Yes, I loved reading books (and still do)! The library was my favorite place as a child, where books took my imagination to new worlds. It felt like magic. My aunt read The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner to my cousins, my brother, and me, and I read the whole series alone. I also loved Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Secret Garden and A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series.
What family trips have inspired your stories?
Sometimes our family trips will give me a good story idea. My sons have always loved zoos and animals, and we’ve been to zoos all over the world. My husband is from India and we’ve have spent a lot of time there visiting family, at various zoos and tiger sanctuaries, and exploring ancient buildings like the Taj Mahal. Florida’s beaches inspired Into the Blue’s counting fun, and seeing the majestic Niagara Falls in New York and Canada was also a wonderful experience. We live in Kentucky, so we don’t have to travel too far to see beautiful natural wonders like Mammoth Cave, Red River Gorge, and gorgeous horse farms throughout the state. All of these places have influenced my writing.
What are the names of your corgis?
Bonnie and Leo, siblings from different litters! Leo is only eight months older than his sister Bonnie, and they adore each other.
These sweet corgis bring tons of joy and energy to our family, and they also inspire my stories.
