Interview: Norah Wilson talks about Oma Rāpeti / Run Rabbit - Kua Kainamu te Kirihimete/Christmas Countdown

Norah Wilson hails from Washington, D.C., and after several years teaching in Brussels, Belgium, she moved to Aotearoa in 2011. Norah has been telling stories through her teaching and motherhood for many years, but it wasn’t until her third child was born that she decided to write them down. Norah lives with her Kiwi husband, three kids and a dog, and teaches on Auckland’s North Shore. This is the eighth title in the Oma Rāpeti bilingual series. Norah talks to NZ Bookloves.

Tell us a little about Oma Rāpeti / Run Rabbit - Kua Kainamu te Kirihimete/Christmas Countdown.

This is the eighth book in the series with little Rāpeti. Each of the books is meant to be very relatable for our tamariki, and I hope this one fits the bill for that 'countdown to Christmas' feeling so many are familiar with. We get to see him prep for the season with crafts, baking, singing, and wrapping presents- and with each new day comes the question 'how many more sleeps now?' 

What inspired you to write this book?

We do a lot of counting down in our house! Christmas and birthdays are the ultimate countdowns for us, but we don't stop there. In the weeks before bringing our dog home for the first time, the kids made a paper chain of the number of sleeps left and a drawing of a dog at the end. Each day, we removed a paper chain until we reached that adorable puppy. There is such joy in marking those days of anticipation and preparation.  

How did you work with the illustrator, Kimberly Andrews?

Kimberly is so creative and skilled. She knows little Rāpeti inside and out and makes him and his world come alive on the pages. I believe my comment to her after the first draft was something about wishing I could order the wrapping paper she drew in the book. 

If a soundtrack were made to accompany this book, name a song or two you would include.

Oma, Rāpeti! And, for this particular book, I think we could add Aotearoa Christmas.

What did you enjoy the most about writing this children’s picture book?

I loved thinking about all of the excitement and build-up around Christmas and the summer holidays. Growing up in the Northern Hemisphere, the focus was much more on lights and snowy days, but I have grown to love the relaxed summer vibes of Christmas in New Zealand. Bring on the long, sunny days! 

What do you hope children will take away from reading?

I always hope that tamariki will learn something new in te reo Māori when reading these books- I know I do! I suppose there is a little lesson in this book, too. Rāpeti's countdown to Christmas culminates with the ultimate gift- his grandparents. 

What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?

I don't recall any specific details about the moment it was done, but on publication day, I wore a pretty green (Christmasy) dress to work. 

What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?

I really enjoyed Valerie Perrin's Forgotten on Sunday. Each of her books has captured me so completely and made me want to travel to provencial France again. But for now, I will have to settle for her latest book, which comes out next year. 

What’s next on the agenda for you?

We have number nine in this series coming out next year, which is very exciting. I am also busy adding other stories to my kete, and hope that another lovable character can emerge and find its way into a book. Other than that, it's just the countdown to Christmas! 

Scholastic New Zealand