Following our longlist nomination for the BookTrust Storytime Prize 2027, we’d like to share an exclusive insight into the development of Squish! with the author, Tim Bugbird.
What inspired Little Cub?
The Little Cub concept began with our Senior Design Stylist Gabrielle, who put forward the thought of this “sweet animal term of endearment” being used to “describe a young child”. Drawing inspiration from the adorable cubs of the animal kingdom, specifically “lions, bears, [and] pandas,” Gabrielle began “creating a ‘cub’ character” that later became the protagonist for Squish!
Focussing on young children as “littles” and leaning into their cub-like friendships, the world of Little Cub began to take shape, mirroring the relationships, activities, and emotions of young children, specifically toddlers. At this early stage, it was undecided which animal the main character would be, but there were plenty of options to choose from.
How did the concept develop?
Gabrielle passed the initial idea onto Tim, the author, who started to “flesh out these ideas further, [considering] how they could be developed, and what age [Squish!] would be most suitable for”. Following this brief, Tim began to “create a world without adults where a diverse group of friends play, learn, and solve problems together”. This became Little Cub’s world, a world that explores the rollercoaster of toddler life while also introducing first concepts, emotions, relationships, and, of course, a little bit of humour.
Tim shared:
“The world is of the moment. It’s simple to our eyes but to Little Cub and friends [it’s] much bigger, something Ian’s illustrations capture really beautifully.”
Creating Little Cub’s personality
Tim set out to create a main character with kindness at their core. This blossomed into a “creative, friendly, quietly tenacious” character who’s “always encouraging, positive, and considerate”. All are welcome in Little Cub’s Club, so when Mouse can’t join everybody for tea and biscuits, the cubs help one another to find a solution, promoting teamwork and inclusivity. By focussing on the “happiness shared when [the animal friends] solve a problem together”, Tim hoped the audience would “see a little of themselves and their playmates” through the characters in the book. Aspiring to reflect “the feelings and emotions they experience” within Little Cub’s world, Tim ensured the cubs and the problems they faced were relatable to toddlers and young children.
How does Tim like to write?
Tim says:
“I write in intensive bursts and then, when I get stuck, I go for a long walk and find new ideas emerge in the fresh air! When I’ve got something down, the really fun bit is bouncing it around with Sarah (MBI Editorial Director) and sharing ideas with the creative team.”
What other books has Tim enjoyed writing for Make Believe Ideas?
Tim shared:
“Although Camilla the Cupcake Fairy was my first picture book and will always be very special to me, I had a lot of fun with the second in the series Daisy the Donut Fairy. More recently, Wanted! Reindeer, a new take on the Rudolph story, and Queen Bee’s Day Off (illustrated by Ian!) were also great to work on.”
Love Squish! and want to read more books written by Tim? Click here!
Find out what happens next in Wobble!
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