The idea for RORO’S PARIS came about when we were getting ready to take our first family trip in 2022. We were traveling to Lyon and Annecy, France, and I was thrilled for our son, Rowan, to experience someplace new. I’ve always loved traveling and writing, and I thought it would be fun to try writing a book about a child’s experience visiting a new destination. I chose Paris because I have been there multiple times and it’s a fantastic place for a child to explore.

I wanted RORO’S PARIS to capture a child’s curiosity and wonder in a new place. As adults, I feel like it’s so rare to encounter a truly new experience. For a young kid, though, so many things — even those that seem most mundane to us— are brand new and exciting to them, especially when traveling. That’s why I decided to tell the story from RoRo’s perspective. I focused on sights and attractions that I felt would be most appealing to a child, and I also wanted to capture a range of emotions when traveling: excitement, boredom, and of course, awe.

I hope RORO’S PARIS inspires your child (and you!) to be more curious about the world. Whether you’ve been to Paris or not, I hope you enjoy having RORO’S PARIS whisk you away to this magical city at story time!