The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/David McMullin and Review of Percy and Speck
David McMullin is a children’s book writer, and poet.
His poems are featured in several magazines and anthologies alongside such authors as Jane Yolen. Honors include an SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul Award, an Astra International Picture Book Writing Contest award, and he was a Madness Poetry champion. David is a world traveler, bird nerd, and YouTuber. In past careers he was a Broadway actor, an educator, and a children’s librarian.
He is the author of Rock N’Roll Baby, illustrated by Allison Black (2026), Free to be Fabulous, illustrated by Robbie Cathro (2024) and poems in Hop To It: Poems to Get You Moving, by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, illustrated by Franzi Paetzod (2020).
His first book in his new early reader book series, Percy and Speck, releases on September 15th.
Welcome back David, thank you for coming to talk about the first book in your new early reader series!
It’s great to be back!
What has been the most interesting or odd experience (you’re willing to share) of your children’s literature career so far?
I have written hundreds of manuscripts over the last fourteen years, and not long ago I noticed something very odd. I realized that two of my published books, Free to Be Fabulous, and The Nose, plus a third manuscript that won the Ann Whitford Paul Award, were all written (back in 2018) within a two week period. I guess I was having a very creative moment. I hope that doesn’t mean I’ve passed my peak!
Ha! I hope not, too. Time for a "recapture 2018" retreat? What was your inspiration or spark of interest for creating an early reader series and for Percy and Speck?
The Nose started after getting a bug in my mouth and thinking that for as unpleasant as it was for me it was far worse for the bug. I first wrote it as a picture book idea but with each revision, the language became simpler, phrases were being repeated, and the character relationship became central. It began to read more like an early reader. I decided to lean into that, so I created two more Percy & Speck stories so that I could offer them as a package. I read every early reader at my library to get a feel for how to write for that age category.
Honestly, not sure who I feel sorry for. How long did it take from the first draft to publication for Percy and Speck?
This was an eight year journey, although for about six of those years it sat untouched in a file on my computer.
It's fun to go diving through old manuscript files on the computer (or in folders) and find forgotten treasures. What was the toughest aspect of writing Percy and Speck? And what was the most fun part of creating this book? How does this compare to writing your other books?
I usually find the toughest part and the most fun part to be one and the same. This book was no exception. The thing that makes this book unique is that it can be read in three different ways. If the reader only looks at the left side of each spread they learn Percy the dog’s story. If they read the right side they get Speck the bug’s story. Finally, both sides can be read together to see how the characters affect one another. It was definitely a puzzle to make it all match up, but like all good puzzles, so much fun to put together.
I love that there are the three ways to read it! That makes it really fun. And I can imagine how much work that took to accomplish. When you first saw Lauren Stohler’s illustrations, did anything amaze or surprise you? Which is your favorite spread?
Text © David McMullin, 2026. Image © Lauren Stohler, 2026.
I immediately fell in love with her vision of the story. Percy and Speck are adorable and so funny. My favorite spread is the one after Speck leaves Percy’s nose and they celebrate—hilarious!
This is a really cute spread with lots of personality for both of them. Is there anything special you want your readers to know or discover about Percy and Speck?
I don’t think I have shared this fun-fact with many people yet—because the series is about perspectives, the names Percy and Speck come from that thematic word. PERSpective and perSPECtive.
HA! Thanks for sharing that super fun tidbit with us! Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
My next project is still unannounced, but I can share that I will be entering the realm of non-fiction with a book of animal facts.
Intriguing! We will have to keep our eyes open for it and more Percy & Speck books. Last question, who is your literary hero or heroine, living or dead? Why?
I am going to go with Arnold Lobel, the author of the Frog and Toad books (which I loved as a kid). I pick him because I like to think I have as much joy for writing as he did. Instead of a writer or author, he called himself a “daydreamer.” He said making books for children felt like "a sort of state of grace” and “I cannot think of any work that could be more agreeable and fun than making books for children.”
Thank you, David for sharing about yourself and your new early reader with us.
For more information about David McMullin, or to contact him:
Website: https://www.davidmcmullinbooks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmcmullinpb/
Review of Percy & Speck: The Nose
The first book in a fun new early reader series, introduces Percy, a loveable purple sweater-wearing dog, and Speck, a super expressive, adorable bug. This unique dual point of view book explores both of their reactions when Percy accidentally snorts Speck into his nose. It's a really fun book for beginning readers.
Percy & Speck: The Nose
Author: David McMullin
Illustrator: Lauren Stohler
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (September 15, 2026)
Ages: 3-5
Fiction
Themes:
Humor, dog, bug, and features of a dog's nose.
Synopsis:
A dog and a bug get thrown together—literally—and offer different points of view in this hilarious Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read.
Percy and Speck see things differently from one another. Percy is a dog. Speck is a bug. When Speck gets stuck in Percy’s nose, they are in for one silly adventure!
Opening Lines:
Hi, I am Percy.
Today is a good
day until . . .
Hi, I’m Speck.
Today is a good day
until . . .
What I loved about this book:
With a perfect sunny start to the day, we meet our two main characters Percy, the purple sweater clad dog, and Speck, a sun tanning bug. The big, bright, colorful illustrations with color-coded thought bubbles, illustration frames, and side bands, along with the repetitive language, and large font will be engaging and perfect for budding readers.
Text © David McMullin, 2026. Image © Lauren Stohler, 2026.
Given the subtitle, it would be fun to ask readers to guess what might happen next. I love the way the text and illustrations work together to create the unusual format which David McMullin mentioned above - a triple reading experience. The book can be read by following either the purple or blue highlighted portions of the pages and focusing on one character's point of view at a time or by reading both at the same time - experiencing the same event from their dual perspectives. Making it an unusual and interesting early reader.
Text © David McMullin, 2026. Image © Lauren Stohler, 2026.
The comical illustrations beautifully play off the repeating text ("This is a very bad thing./ Yuck!) and their slightly personalized point of view text . . .
Text © David McMullin, 2026. Image © Lauren Stohler, 2026.
David McMullin did a great job following Percy & Speck's individual and joint experience and Lauren Stohler's illustrations do such a great job upping the humor. I love the dual perspectives and the cute personalities and awesome expressions she created.
Because it is an early reader for kids, I'm going to leave you to figure out how this all works out, so I don't give too much away. But I will say, I LOVE the way they perfectly set us up for book number 2! This is a wonderfully engaging and humorous book for beginning readers.
Resources:
make your own paper tube dog (with a sweater) and/or (marionette - add a sweater?) and recycled bug. What kind of adventures or discoveries will your dog and bug make?
what is your favorite (or one you find really funny) image in the book? Is it one of the dog's, the bug's, or both together? Why?
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