Judith Kerr shared insights about her childhood and writing career in a recent interview. Growing up in a literate household in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s, her parents did not engage in the tradition of bedtime stories. Instead, her father occasionally recounted Old Testament tales, which were met with mixed reactions from her and her brother. Kerr recalls that during their last winter in Berlin, they enjoyed some freedoms, such as watching their first talkie, Emil and the Detectives, at the age of nine.
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Kerr explained that she felt an underlying sense of danger in Germany, particularly as their family left on the eve of the Nazi election victory on March 5, 1933. While her brother was more attuned to the political climate, she describes how her parents shielded them from the harsh realities of their environment. After fleeing, they found safety in France.
Reflecting on her marriage to writer Nigel Kneale, Kerr noted that they supported each other's work without rivalry. Kneale, known for The Quatermass Experiment, helped her secure her first job in television in the 1950s. Kerr's diverse inspirations trace back to her stories told to her children, particularly The Tiger Who Came to Tea, which she initially narrated to her daughter.
In addressing her well-known character Mog, Kerr mentioned that any story typically revolves around a problem that gets resolved. Mog's anxious demeanor reflects her nature of being confused by the world around her. The series, initially inspired by Kerr's real-life cat, expanded as she encountered more cats with their own quirks, leading to additional Mog stories.
Kerr discussed her critically acclaimed children's novel, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, which draws on her own experiences as a refugee. While she does not label her childhood as difficult, she believes the challenges influenced her perspective and fueled her creativity. Her works have opened discussions for younger readers about themes like the Holocaust, connecting them to historical narratives.
Regarding her writing process, Kerr highlighted the importance of creating stories that resonate with children's emotional experiences. She began writing for children because she recognized their capacity to grasp complex feelings and wanted to create engaging stories that did not previously exist for their age group.
Kerr will appear at a Guardian Live event on March 12 at the Royal Geographical Society in London, where she will discuss inspirational women.