Since 1996, readers have grown up with Biscuit, the beloved children’s book puppy. For the 30th anniversary, author Alyssa Satin Capucilli shared 10 heartwarming stories about creating the beloved character.

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I still remember going to the library as a little kid, looking for the Biscuit books and their colorful illustrations. In elementary school, my dad and I would attend the annual Book Festival in Tarrytown, where dozens of children's authors gathered for book signings and meet-and-greets. I remember meeting both Alyssa and illustrator Pat Schories, and seeing how much they enjoyed talking with their fans.

Decades later, it was a pleasure to reunite with Alyssa over Zoom to hear fun facts about 30 years of the beloved puppy.

Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Alyssa: When my daughter was young, she wanted to babysit our neighbor’s really huge dog, and she asked if the dog could sleep at our home. I am a puppy lover, so of course, I said, "Yes, let’s do it."

I watched her with this big dog, trying to get him to settle down. She brought him a blanket, a doll, a snack, a bowl of water — she even tried to read to this big dog who was running all over the place.

As I watched her, two things happened. First, I realized she thought the dog understood every word she said, almost as if she were having a conversation.

Second, I think I actually traveled back to my own childhood bedroom, where I read and reread Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary. I loved that book, and I connected with the character, Henry. Henry was the only one who wanted a dog, possibly as much as I did. When Henry carried Ribsy home in that cardboard box, it felt like a personal victory.

So, the idea for Biscuit was a confluence between the real world and the remembered world. The way those two things mixed together really inspired me to begin the very first story.

Alyssa: I was thinking of a sweet, small, yellow puppy, and that name just popped into my head.

I later wrote a story about how the actual character gets his name. And of course, he has everything he needs — a bed, a bone, a bowl, a brush — everything except a name, and we almost allow Biscuit to name himself.

Alyssa: It's a funny story because back in the day, Pat and I did not collaborate. I was at a writer’s critique group, and Pat Schories walked in — I had never met her before. She started talking about this book that she illustrated, titled Biscuit, and I literally turned and said, "That’s my book!" It was really a funny moment that began so long ago. 

When I first saw her drawing of Biscuit, I was almost moved to tears. I was so excited. What I love to say about the first book is that Pat had no idea I was thinking of my daughter when she received the manuscript — she just happened to choose a little girl to be in the story. I’ve never named that character in all of these years. To me, she represents every child.

Alyssa: I wrote one book. I had no clue I would write more and more and more. I began to get letters in the mail soon after, and the letters said, "This is the first book I can read by myself, or that my child or student can read by themselves."

At that point, I thought, "Gee, I would love to make a library for this really precious age group." So HarperCollins allowed us to do another, and then we went into a multi-book mode.

Alyssa: Of course, the first one is very near and dear to my heart. It's really hard to choose a favorite. I also love Biscuit Loves the Library and Biscuit Visits the Big City. 

A little side story for Biscuit Visits the Big City. I once visited a classroom, and they literally built the city out of cardboard and aluminum foil. As the honored guest, I was given a hot dog lunch, just like in the book. Those are the moments when you can take a deep breath and say to yourself, "Oh, what a connection these books have made."

Alyssa: The way I approach it is: I look for my story first, and even if I have to rewrite it and pare it down a bit, I like to tell a very full story. I will say the first book was not intended as an early reader. I wrote it as a picture book, as a lullaby, and as a conversation. It just happened to launch HarperCollins’ My First I Can Read series.

It can be difficult to create a beginning, middle, and end, and pack it with emotion, humor, and interest when you only have so many words to do it.

In the case of Biscuit, of course, the story also has to be illustrable. These books are a great friend to children just learning to read, and we want to support the emergent reader in any way that we can.

Alyssa: "Woof, woof" are two words children can read easily. They’re gaining confidence. They’re halfway home. When someone sits down and tries to read Biscuit, we just hear them very slowly, very carefully repeating that, "Woof, woof." 

As I discovered, I like to say that those "woofs" are an invitation for readers to imagine what Biscuit is trying to say. We put the dialogue into their hands at a very young age.

Alyssa: I often write about a slice of life and things I love to do. For the newest book, Biscuit Rides the Ferry, my grandchildren were visiting from out of town, and I thought, "I have to give them a New York moment."

So we got on the Circle Line, went past the Statue of Liberty, and took some fun pictures. In the book, I expanded the actual ferry ride to a broader scene — we could meet dolphins, we could meet ducks, and we could have a bigger moment. It’s a wonderful journey — an adventure, and a first time for Biscuit.

Alyssa: In the illustrations, Pat loves to put in little characters, little moments. Perhaps it’s a mouse that recurs in multiple books.

For myself, it’s really just working on the words and bringing back a world that a reader can return to each time. They can find kindness, something silly, and something very sweet. It's something I hope my readers recognize and think, "Oh, I’ve been here before."

The young reader has such a fertile imagination, and they can so easily transition between the everyday and the imagined world. It's almost completely natural for them to embrace a character and go on a journey with that character. I just have such an affinity and such a love for this age group. It really influences every Biscuit book I write.

Alyssa: I hear how much Biscuit has been a part of readers' lives, and it is both humbling and gratifying. There is something about this character that has resonated with so many different readers, and I don't take that lightly.

I feel, especially with young children, it's a responsibility to offer them a slice of that world. I want it to be sweet, and funny, and silly. I want them to close the covers of the book and say, "Oh, that was fun. Let me do it again." 

Sometimes I hear stories that are quite moving. I often pen pal with students that you might not think are Biscuit readers, but Biscuit holds a very important place in their lives. It's hard to articulate just how meaningful that really, really is.

Yesterday, I was at a school visit, and the teacher handed me her childhood Biscuit book — a little worn, a little bit loved — to sign. It's a pinch-me moment. I think that he is an enduring character. I like to think he endures, because people just love coming home to this place and this space and the joy of this little yellow puppy.

Biscuit Rides the Ferry, the newest adventure, is out now. To learn more about Alyssa's work, you can visit her website.

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