Hello Over There! feat. Vikki VanSickle and Jennica Lounsbury
I was a kid who loved poetry collections— Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shell Silverstein Toes in My Nose by Sheree Fitch, Alligator Pie by Denis Lee— so I’m always thrilled when contemporary authors continue this tradition. Last year, I fell in love with Words with Wings and Magic Things by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Doug Salati (Tundra Press, 2025). This fall I’m totally smitten by Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown, a gentle and atmospheric book perfect for curling up with on a windy October night.
I always love Vikki’s work, and this beautiful collection is no exception. The poems introduce readers to a charming cast of Halloween-y characters, and I love that you could read one or two a night in the lead up to the big night. Vikki’s verses are perfectly paired with Jannica’s softly spooky illustrations, rendered in coloured pencil. This book makes me want to pack up all my sweaters and scarves, hop on my broom, and move to October County.
Vikki: Which of the poems in Mother Boo spoke to you the most as an illustrator and why?
Jennica: I think the poem that spoke to me the most as an illustrator was Countdown to Halloween. I love that one. Little kid me would have loved this poem too, with the two parts of the back and forth countdown and Trick or treating and candy eating! As soon as I read it, I felt like I could picture it. I love drawing trick or treating scenes. I was so excited to give this neighbourhood the Halloween feel of my spooky dreams. And the counting back down into the quiet last line made me think of little mice checking out their treats in the moonlight after everyone has gone to bed! This poem feels like the essence of Halloween to me.
Jennica: Which character in Spookytown would you most want to trick or treat with and why?
Vikki: It was hard to pick a trick or treating partner from all the sweet little characters in the book, but my favourite is the little goblin Ugga Bugga Baby, who I think is disgustingly cute. Even without a costume he would be the star of the show! There’s also something about his cute, fierce, and silly demeanor that makes me think of my (now half grown) kitten, Fiyero… but I’ll let you be the judge.
Upcoming Events:
Sunday, September 20, Parkette, Hamilton, ON, 10am - Vikki + Jennica
Sunday, October 4, Type Books Junction, Toronto, ON, 1pm- Vikki + Jennica
Saturday, October 11, Egghead Books, Halifax, NS- Jennica
Tuesday, October 13, Calgary Imaginarium: Witches, Cats and & Poets Storytime- Vikki
Vikki also has some events for her first adult book, The Mystic and the Missing Girl, available Sept 8th:
September 17, The Secret Garden, Milton, 6:30
September 20, Eden Mills Festival
September 22, Woodstock Public Library, 6pm
+ more to come!
ABOUT VIKKI:
VIKKI VANSICKLE is the author of many books for children and teens, and has just released her first novel for adults, The Mystic and the Missing Girl (Penguin Random House, 2026). She has also worked as a bookseller, a menstrual health educator, a creative writing instructor and publishing professional with Penguin Random House Canada. Currently, she lives and writes in Toronto and hosts a book segment on CTV Your Morning.
CONNECT WITH VIKKI ONLINE:
Instagram: @vikkivansickle
ABOUT JENNICA:
JENNICA LOUNSBURY began illustrating picture books after working in animation. She likes to get lost in the magic of reading a book, and she loves helping to create that magic using art. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario, with her family, her garden and her very best cat Greta.
CONNECT WITH JENNICA ONLINE:
Instagram: @jennicalou
