Q and A: An interview in The Niche, the BES members magazine
The Most Important Animal of All: an interview with author Penny Worms
What motivated you to write The Most Important Animal of All?
After reading about Earthwatch’s ‘Irreplaceable’ debate at the Royal Geographical Society. Five scientists battled it out for audience votes on which species was the most invaluable. It struck me that this kind of question would pique people’s interest and the debate format was something that teachers might enjoy exploring with their class. Giving children a choice to champion an animal and to learn about its contribution to the world seemed a great idea.
How did you pick the animals that are featured?
I started with the Earthwatch debate. Dr George McGavin representing bees won the final vote over Professor David Thomas’s plankton, so bees were an easy pick. Plankton was too problematic, so I went one up the food chain with krill. After that, I selected animals that would both interest children and brought different ecological insights. Habitat diversity was also important so the illustrator, Hannah Bailey, could create beautiful visual landscapes. Hence, elephants, sharks, tigers, and beavers all made the cut. The last animal was bats, chosen over hummingbirds. I wanted a bird in the mix but my decision was pandemic-driven. I wanted to shout about how important they are to so many nations in so many ways. Hummingbirds get their slot at the end, along with another seven animals, so children understand that the selection is not exhaustive.
Was there anything that surprised you while writing this book, did you learn any ecology yourself?
Oh my goodness, so much! I’m not ashamed to admit (well, I am a bit!) how little I knew about bees and bats. When I asked ecologist and author Alex Morss to be a consultant, she set me straight on so much. There is a lot of misinformation out there, even from sources I thought were authoritative. Alex helped me knock the text into shape, and suggested I check with specialists. I contacted Dr Ali Birkett at Lancaster University and her colleague, marine ecologist Dr Sally Keith, plus Gemma Bailey at The Big Cat Sanctuary. The book then had the full scrutiny of British Ecological Society experts who gave it their seal of approval. So really the best surprise was the ecological community – an ecosystem populated by enthusiastic and generous people, much like the children’s book world.
You’ve created learning resources for teachers and families to download and explore, what about ecology are you most hoping your audiences learn?
How everything is connected and balanced. If you lose one important species, it will affect the whole ecosystem.
With biodiversity and climate crises at the forefront of public attention, what role do you see such books playing in influencing public perception and actions?
The book is for young children. I wanted the approach to be positive and uplifting. Children have enough to be anxious about. I wanted to embed in their minds the good that animals do for people, for other species, for the world.
How do you hope children will feel after they’ve read MIA?
To come away thinking, “These animals are important. We need to look after them,” and to feel that they can be animal ambassadors. I keep quoting one of my heroes, Dr Jane Goodall: “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, will all be saved.”