Mom’s Choice Awards is excited to announce another post in our interview series where we chat with the inventors, designers, publishers, and others behind some of our favorite family-friendly products.
Hello, Mom’s Choice readers! Thank you for joining us for another segment of our interview series. For this interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Hadar Fadida, the author of the MCA award-winning book, Spectacular Me! Spectacular Me is described as a crossover comic/interactive/picture book that is, simply put, a celebration. Spectacular Me is a celebration of everyone’s uniqueness. No matter if you’re big or small, a person or an animal, everyone is unique and everyone has qualities that make them their spectacular, one-of-a-kind selves. Keep reading to find out more about Hadar Fadida and discover what makes her, spectacularly her!
MCA: Hi, Hadar! Thank you for joining us for this interview and congratulations on your Mom’s Choice Award! Spectacular Me is such a sweet story filled with positive affirmations that also tells a great message; that everyone is unique in their own way. Tell us some unique things about yourself that make you, spectacularly you!
“Spectacular Me” Front and Back Cover
Hadar: I was born in Nottingham, England, the first daughter to a policeman and teacher. Later there came two more daughters and we became a close trio of avid readers. I trained as a Dental Hygienist and worked as one for thirty years on three continents. I moved to Israel when I was twenty-three as I wanted to embark on an adventure. I definitely got what I wished for as the next few years saw me move from Israel, back to England, back to Israel, to New York, Miami, and then finally settled in a farm in the desert back here in Israel.
I love reading, drinking coffee, writing, horse riding (I have two horses), drinking coffee, playing hide-and-seek with my grandchildren, and did I mention drinking coffee?
MCA: Your life has been quite a unique adventure, it is always wonderful when you can incorporate your travels into your livelihood. What in your life would you say has contributed the most to you becoming a writer?
Hadar: When my first grandson was born, I was struck with a bolt of creative lightning. Unburdened with the responsibilities that come with being a parent I could explore this new aspect of myself. I wanted to grant him a thousand wishes but as I was lacking in super-powers, I decided to grant him a thousand stories. I printed them in books, on tee shirts, on sheets, pictures, and then on a YouTube channel, Story Godmother.
MCA: Well, they do say that writers have superpowers for a reason. Was it your grandson that also inspired your writing of Spectacular Me?
Hadar: My inspiration was and still is my first grandson. The first word I said when he was born was ‘spectacular’. There was no other word to describe the exquisite creature. He loves listening to my stories. He loves animals and has an amazing knowledge about them. He sees himself as part of their world, fellow creatures on this gorgeous planet.
MCA: What a spectacular and unique gift to give your grandson! I’m sure it is a gift that will keep on giving for generations to come. What are some of the key lessons found in Spectacular Me?
Hadar Fadida with her grandchildren
Hadar: The child is born into an expectant world that has awaited him eagerly. Then he learns each day (days of the week) the story of the fish, birds, animals, and then himself (fun facts about animals and the order of creation). The main lesson comes at the end when he realizes that he is completely unique and even though he can’t fly or swim or roar, there is “no one who can dance like me, sing like me, and definitely no one who can hug like me.” The most spectacular story is our own and we need to shout it out loud each day.
MCA: What kind of response from readers have you received?
Hadar: Parents tell me that it is their children’s favorite book. They love animals and fun-facts.
My favorite critics are five-years-old, in fact, my favorite people are five-years-old.
MCA: You can always count on five-year-olds to be your toughest and most honest critics! Can you tell us about the creative burst you have experienced that comes with being a grandma and the new science of “grandmaology?”
Hadar: I decided to share my love of being a grandma with the world so I started a YouTube channel called “grandmaology.” I work as a lab technician and I do research projects all the time so I decided to research the new science of “grandmaology” or the new science of being a cool grandma. Being part of the “grandmahood” is fabulous. We rule the Queendom, celebrate each day, and drink lots of coffee.
MCA: “Grandmahood” sounds absolutely fabulous, I cannot wait to join someday myself! If you could ensure readers of your book walk away with one main lesson, what would it be?
Hadar: That we are our story. No one else has a story like ours and that is just…spectacular.
MCA: That is spectacular indeed. Thank you again for joining us and we hope to hear from your spectacular self sometime soon!
You can learn more about Hadar Fadida and her award-winning book, Spectacular Me, by visiting her MCA Shop pages.
