Duane Lawrence Discusses Stanley Park, Japan & the Inspiration Behind the ‘Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon’ Series

Children’s author Duane Lawrence has combined his love of nature, travel, and cultural understanding into a charming series of books featuring two adventurous best friends, Sammy Squirrel and Rodney Raccoon. Set against the backdrop of Vancouver’s iconic Stanley Park and extending as far as Japan, the stories encourage young readers to embrace kindness, friendship, curiosity, and respect for all living creatures.

With Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon: A Stanley Park Tale, Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon: To The Rescue, and a newly released full-colour edition of A Stanley Park Tale (retitled and revised for younger children just learning to read) called Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon – Far From Stanley Park, Lawrence continues to captivate readers while promoting awareness of the interconnectedness of life and the importance of understanding different cultures.

V13 Media connected with Duane Lawrence to learn more about the inspiration behind the series, his writing process, and the experiences that helped shape these memorable adventures.

Duane Lawrence ‘Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon’ book cover

Stanley Park plays a central role in your books. Can you tell us about the moment during one of your walks there when the idea for Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon first came to you?

Duane Lawrence: “Many years ago, I was strolling with a friend on a beautiful summer day in Stanley Park. We walked by Beaver Lake in the heart of the park and saw a lot of animal activity – birds, squirrels, turtles sunning on lily pads, dragonflies in the air – it just seemed like all the animals were out and about. I said to my friend how odd it was that no one had written a children’s book about Stanley Park animals. We got about another ten feet along, and I said, ‘I’m going to do it one day!’

“Well, it wasn’t until several years later that I finally sat down to write. But that walk and that sudden thought were the two things that got it started.”

Sammy Squirrel and Rodney Raccoon are such engaging characters. Were they inspired by real animals you’ve encountered in Stanley Park, or did they develop entirely from your imagination?

“Sammy and Rodney came out of my imagination. After that summer walk, I would often ponder, just for fun, what their personalities were like and how the story might start and how it would develop. As I got busier in life, I didn’t think about it as much, but it seemed to always be there in the back of my mind, and I would regularly return to it and explore more about who the characters were and how I wanted to portray them when I had the time. But if you think about it, squirrels tend to be busy and hardworking, while raccoons are rather slow-moving and eat just about everything that they can get their paws on.”

 In A Stanley Park Tale, the two friends travel all the way from Vancouver to Japan. What inspired you to take these characters on such an ambitious and unexpected journey?

“That’s a great question because I never planned for them to go to Japan when I first thought of doing a story about Stanley Park animals.  It really was a combination of things, and then another sudden thought that inspired me. I was living in Nara, Japan, and teaching English at a private high school there at the time. During a very cold February, I decided to stay in my apartment one weekend rather than get on the train to visit friends. Just like in Canada, the winter flu/cold season was upon us, and I didn’t want to catch anything.

“So, what to do at home that weekend? It just popped into my head, I’m going to start writing that story about Stanley Park animals I had been thinking about for so long, and I’m going to connect it to the animals in Nara Park here in Japan. A park-to-park adventure with an ocean in between! This sudden thought really excited me, I have to say.

“I got out my laptop computer (as thick as an unabridged dictionary at that time), and I started to type. Honestly, and you won’t believe it, the ideas just flowed out of me. Was it good writing? It didn’t matter at that moment, because it felt like the start of the story had been forming in my subconscious mind and was ready to spill out. It took me about six weeks to finish the first draft.”

You taught English in Japan for nine years. How did your experiences living there influence the story, particularly the scenes involving the deer in Nara and the cultural elements woven throughout the book?

“It’s difficult to put into words, because a lot of the writing just flowed, as I said, and so many ideas converged at the same time, but I knew that I wanted to convey my experience as a Canadian living in Japan through the animal characters via their personalities and behaviour.  The deer bow in Japanese style in my story, and are extremely polite and thoughtful, as you would expect in Japanese culture. In fact, there really are about 1,000 tame deer wandering around Nara Park, and many of them have gradually been trained to bow to get the special biscuits made for them.

“I knew I had hit on a good idea to have the deer represent Japanese culture and have Sammy and Rodney represent Canadian culture. Of course, the characters from both places would also show characteristics that we all share.”

One of the themes running through the series is the relationship between animals and people. Why was it important for you to explore real-world issues through a fictional animal adventure?

“You ask such great questions! The community values in Japan and their respect for the larger group and for nature really impacted me. I have always been a person who wants to contribute to others and find meaning in my work; hence, I became a teacher, but the importance of the collective in Japan is much more developed, I think, than in Canadian society. So, take that to the next level: We are all in this together on Earth. Human beings have a profound impact on the natural world.

“The astronauts on the most recent mission around the moon reminded us that the Earth is only ONE thing from space with no divisions. I don’t know why, but I have always felt the interconnectedness we live in and recognize the impact we have on all life on the planet. My experience in Japan as being a part of the whole group deepened it. We all need to stop bickering, get along, and protect the planet that sustains us.”

Friendship, kindness, and helping others are central to the books. Were these lessons something you consciously set out to teach young readers, or did they emerge naturally through the storytelling process?

“Initially, I wasn’t conscious of it in my writing. It was simply what flowed out of me. But as it progressed, I became more aware of the themes and did focus on them more intentionally. It became really a combination of natural creative flow and intentionality.”

Your first book was recognized as one of the Top 100 Recommended Books by British Columbia elementary school teachers during the BCTF’s (British Columbia Teachers’ Federation) 100th anniversary. What did that recognition mean to you as an author?

“I was very surprised that Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon – A Stanley Park Tale had been included in this list. There are some well-known titles there. I really do feel honoured that some elementary school teachers in BC felt this way about my book. It was a thrill, and it made me feel that my writing can make a bit of a difference to certain people whose job it is to promote reading and literacy, and inspire children to read more.”

Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon: To the Rescue continues the adventures of these beloved characters. How did writing the second book differ from writing the first?

“Well, I really felt like I knew better what I was doing with the second book. Once again, everything seemed to flow at the start. I had no shortage of ideas, even though the story was quite different in that they go to the hidden Animal Inn below the Sylvia Hotel and not to faraway Japan. I felt my writing was tighter and wittier, which I liked, and I felt I had a better understanding of what I needed to do. So, the experience of writing the first story really helped me write the second one. You get better at what you practice, right?”

The stories introduce readers to both local and international settings. How important is it for children to learn about different cultures and environments through literature?

“I think we all can agree that children need to be familiar with cultures and ways of being in the world that are different from their own – it’s an essential part of having a well-rounded education and understanding others – books help with this process as much as travel does.  Even though cultural differences can be very distinct, we share even more similarities because we are human beings, and stories can convey this clearly and deeply.”

Duane Lawrence ‘Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon – A Stanley Park Tale’ book cover

As someone who speaks English, French, and Japanese, have your language skills influenced the way you approach storytelling and character development?

“Definitely.  I have always liked words, how they sound, their power to convey and influence, the mystery that little scribbles can contain so much knowledge, meaning and feeling. Understanding three languages has provided me with an ability to express myself and my personality in a way that satisfies and fulfills me. There is a bit of formality and traditionality in my writing, with an emphasis on higher-level vocabulary that is intentional and stems from the linguistic formality and levels of politeness and respect you can find in French and in Japanese. It also stems from my love of words and my wish to share that with others who are in the process of expanding their language abilities.”

Your books encourage awareness, empathy, and sensitivity toward the needs of others. In today’s world, do you feel children’s literature has an even greater role to play in fostering these values?

“I do feel that way. Myths, legends and stories have been passed down from the beginning of time and still affect us. Why are stories so important? Because they humanize us and help us to understand ourselves and to see ourselves in others. Those three qualities you used in your question, awareness, empathy and sensitivity, are what make us human. Without them, we are like machines. Literature brings those qualities to the surface.”

You recently released a colour edition of Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon: A Stanley Park Tale. What inspired you to revisit the original book and present it with full-colour illustrations?

“Over the years, some people have mentioned to me that they would like to see the illustrations that Gordon Clover drew for my first book in bright colours. Another reason is that many people wanted a version that would be less of a young reader novel and more of a picture book for those who aren’t ready to read or are just starting to. Sammy Squirrel & Rodney Raccoon – Far from Stanley Park is a simplified and slightly revised version of the first book with colour illustrations for ages 4 to 6 years old – and for those of any age who love children’s books.”

Looking back on the journey of Sammy Squirrel and Rodney Raccoon so far, what has been the most rewarding aspect of creating these stories, and can readers expect more adventures from these characters in the future?

“Writing these stories has been so enjoyable, and that is the best part – the fun of creativity! Having what is in your imagination, expressing what is in your heart and what you value, brought to reality in book form, is an absolute thrill.

“When children during school visits and in libraries tell me they enjoy my story, and adults (like the BCTF, who put me on their reading list) agree, it is highly motivating and deeply satisfying. So far, I have written three stories, a little trilogy that feels complete. My eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be, so I’m not sure if I will write anything more. But I won’t close the door on it yet.”