When artist Rebecca Deneau’s three sons were very young (they’re teenagers now), she would bring home a fresh stack of children’s books from the library every week. “My most joyful times were spent snuggled up on the couch reading with them,” recalls Deneau, of Traverse City. After taking in a variety of artistic styles and different types of poetry, plots, and prose, Deneau’s desire to illustrate a book began to take off.
“Over the years of being a mom, I’ve probably read a thousand children’s books,” she shares. Her brother, who has an MBA in creative writing, loved reading to his young son, too, and thus a collaboration was born. Daniel (Hoye, of Wisconsin) wrote “Let’s Go North,” while Deneau was responsible for the illustrations. “We wanted to create a book that kids (would) request at bedtime and that parents would enjoy reading, too — one that would evoke warm memories of summer vacations Up North.”
Michigan BLUE: What was the inspiration behind “Let’s Go North?”
Rebecca Deneau: My brother and I grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Our grandparents would rent three cabins on the same lake each July. We would spend the week fishing, enjoying campfires, swimming, and relaxing together. It was just what we needed.
Those were such good memories; we thought they would make a great jumping-off point for the book.
Then we found ourselves in the Upper Peninsula enjoying a vacation with our own families, doing some of the same activities we did as kids, now with our children. We realized how valuable it was to us to pass down these cherished memories to the next generation. That became the focal point of the book. It’s about children enjoying summer vacation and learning how to experience joy in all the beautiful things life has to offer.
MB: What do you love about Michigan?
RD: I’ve lived in northern Michigan for more than 20 years; my husband’s hometown (Traverse City) is now my home, too. I love the slower pace here. The people are kind and will stop to chat at the grocery store and help when you need it. Around here, there’s a collective love for the outdoors, because there’s something for everyone. Biking, kayaking, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, skiing — there’s enough to keep us looking forward to our next outdoor adventure.
MB: What’s your favorite spread in the book, and why?
RD:. It’s hard to pick a favorite. Maybe it’s the page with the girls picking raspberries. It feels nostalgic and carefree, like childhood should be. It reminds me of picking wild raspberries in late August on our hikes out to a favorite beach.
Our hope for this book is that readers will connect their own memories of time Up North with family and friends.
MB: I love the activity page at the end; can you tell me what inspired that idea?
RD: The Look and Find page was one of my son’s ideas! We used to love the interactive pages in children’s magazines. It creates a fun surprise at the end, and supports our desire to help little ones pay attention to details and find wonder in the world around them.
MB: Is there another book coming?
RD: We have an idea for the next one, and we think it will be a bit unexpected. But it supports our love for the north, teaching kids resilience, and evoking wonder.
Find It
“Let’s Go North” (self-published) is available at rebeccadeneau.com, as well as select retail shops in the Traverse City area such as Crystal River Outfitters in Glen Arbor, The Find North in Leland and Northport, and Flora Bae Home in Petoskey. It’s also available at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, near Sleeping Bear Dunes in Empire.
