Two (Very) Young Fans Interview The Best Days are Dog Days Author Aaron Meshon

So when his new book, The Best Days Are Dog Days, arrived on my doorstep this week, the three of us rushed to open it and cuddle together to read it.
We couldn’t stop laughing at the comparisons between a dog’s day and that of the little girl who lives with him. We turned each page with excitement to see how the dog’s life was similar, as well as different, from the little girl’s world.
And when it was over, I had a mental list of all the questions I wanted to ask Aaron. But on a whim, I asked my daughter and son what they would have asked Aaron if they had a chance. And after hearing their questions, I realized their interview was far more entertaining than mine.
With their questions in hand, I decided to ask Aaron if he would mind them interviewing him instead of me. He was not only up for the challenge but excited to dive in and answer any and all of their hilarious questions.
So without further ado, may I present to you Cooper and Addison Herzog’s interview with the very patient and kind Aaron Meshon.

Cooper: Did you read the book to your dog? 
That is a very good question! YES. I did read it to Chubu. Chubu is the name of our dog. It means “Central Japan” because his human mom is Japanese and from the Chubu Region in Japan. Anyways, I did read the book to Chubu and to our new human son also.
Addison: What’s the best and worst thing about having a dog? Mom won’t let us have one.
The best thing is that you love him. The worst thing is that if Chubu gets sick we worry because we love him. Another bad thing is when you live in a city you have to pick up your dog’s poop in bags. Warm poop bags.
Cooper: If you could be a dog for just one day, what would you like to do for those 24 hours?
I would like to sleep in a sunbeam for most of the day but take a break to go swim in a stream and then sleep again in the sun. I would want to have no schedule…just sunbeams and swimming (and eating).
Addison: What other authors/illustrators do you like to read? Have you ever met any of your idols?
One of my favorite children’s book authors and illustrators growing up was David Macaulay. He wrote, Castle and Cathedral and The New Way Things Work…and so many more. I loved poring over his amazing pen and ink architectural drawings and learning about cities and how things work. As fate would have it he was my college illustration teacher. It was amazing beyond words. He was one of the reasons I became an illustrator and then to have him as a teacher was just the coolest.

Cooper: What made you want to write a book about your dog? What’s so great about your dog in particular? 
I love to write about topics I can relate to or that are personal to me. I love Chubu, our dog,  and I think he is the most optimistic person/creature I know. Every day he wakes up and is just so happy even if I scolded him the night before for stealing cheese or something. I wanted to try to imagine what he was thinking and what he would tell us about his human sister. Growing up I was the only child but my parents had 3 horses and 2 cats and a dog and a bird so they were my brothers and sisters. They were real family members!
Addison: Is there anything that you are terrible at drawing?
I think I am terrible at drawing many things…BUT I KNOW FOR SURE I am very very bad at rear horse legs because they bend in a strange way. I am also pretty bad at drawing the singer Adele, oh yeah and cats. I can’t draw cats.

Cooper: What was your first book you ever wrote or illustrated and why did you write it?
The first book I wrote and illustrated was called Take Me Out to the Yakyu. It is a true story about how I love baseball in Japan and the USA. I watch games in both countries when I visit my family there and here too. I pretended that our “future” son wrote the book and imagined what his experience would be having 2 parents from different cultures and how people are the same and different and baseball is the same and different. Four years later our son was born!

Addison: Do you ever let your dog eat something they shouldn’t?
Our dog has a very sensitive stomach . We feed him many things you would not think he would like, such as asparagus, watermelon, pumpkin, and cod. Those are all ok for him. Sometimes he finds dust or lint or leaves, which make him sick, but he eats first and asks questions later.

Cooper: Will you ever get two dogs? If so, what would the other dog’s type and name be?
We live on the fourth floor in a small apartment. I have to carry him up the stairs because his legs are small. I also have to carry our 7 month old son up the stairs. Recently I developed a hernia in my back because they were too heavy. I am ok but I can’t carry more dogs up the stairs. I am sad though that Chubu does not have a friend all day to lay with and play with besides humans.

Addison: Will Chubu be in more books? If so, can you write one where he gets married?
I hope very much that Chubu will be in another book soon! If he got married would I have to pay for the wedding? Would it be an expensive destination wedding? Help!

Thanks to Aaron Meshon for his awesome answers! Come see Chubu for yourself in his new book The Best Days Are Dog Days.