Celebrate World Hamster Day with Casey Lyall & Sara Faber!

Hi, readers, writers, and hamster-lovers, too! Did you know that today is World Hamster Day? There's no better way to celebrate your furry friends than by celebrating with Casey Lyall and Sara Faber - author and illustrator of the new Graphic Novel Series, The League of Littles. Let's face it - it's not always easy being the youngest sibling. Eli, Lexi, and Mo, are exactly that and soon find themselves as three trainees at an international organization that supports the needs of youngest siblings. Soon, the trio accepts their first mission - to find a lost hamster, which as many of us know is no easy task. Will they be able to complete their first mission? Want to know more about Casey and Sara, and their new book series - PLUS want to hear some awesome tips and want a chance to win a hamster-iffic treat - a Book Giveaway? Read on...

Q: Hi, Casey and Sara! Thank you both for joining #SeasonsOfKidLit! We’re thrilled to feature you and hear all about your amazing new book, The League of Littles - a perfect read on World Hamster Day. 

Can you both share a little bit about what excited you most about working on this project together? 

Casey: I knew Sara would be a perfect fit when I saw her samples because she created such a fun and playful vibe that was exactly what I had been hoping for. And her characters are SO expressive. You feel like you’re stepping right into the story with them. Watching her bring the whole story to life has been an incredible experience.

Sara: When I read Casey’s manuscript for the first time, I loved the story’s humor and energy right from the start. I could already picture some of the panels and character expressions while reading it, and that made me really excited. Plus, it was my very first graphic novel I worked on, so that was extra exciting! Now I can’t imagine doing anything else anymore, I really fell in love with the whole process!

Q: Your book follows Eli, Lexi, and Mo - three trainees at an international organization that supports the needs of youngest siblings (this is super important, btw)! The three accept their very first mission and help find a lost hamster.

Seriously - this sounds amazing (and so relatable as I’m sure many of us have had that very same mission!)!

Casey, what gave you the idea for this unique story? 

Casey: I got the idea for this story during one of the lockdown periods when I was looking to work on something that would be totally fun and silly and a bit of an escape from the world. The idea of the sibling organizations hit and I knew it would lend itself really well to a more visual medium. I started researching how to write a graphic novel script and as I worked on it, the world started expanding and the characters made themselves known, as they always do, and the whole thing kind of poured out of me.

Sara, how did you choose what illustration style to use to pair best with the text? 

Sara: For the most part I stayed true to my personal art style. I wanted something playful that kids could connect with, so I focused on expressive characters and gestures to visually bring out the humor of Casey’s story.

Q:  What is your favorite scene or spread from the book and why? 

Sara: That’s a tough one! I think my favorite scene is the one with Mo and Chester in the air vent. I had a really good time illustrating this scene and the interaction between Mo and the hamster. I also absolutely love drawing Mo. Another one of my favorites is in the school’s gym and the part that happens after that - can’t spoil anything, you’ll have to read it to know what I mean:) I love it for both the story that happens in that scene, and because it was a good challenge drawing it.

Casey: I have to agree with what Sara says – the air vent sequence is one of my absolute favourites. Honestly, there’s so many spreads that make me laugh out loud and that I totally love. I’ll pick one more and say that I really loved what Sara did with the League’s hideout and the way she illustrated the whole scene for how they get into it. You’ll see when you read the book! :D

Q: Casey, you have written/published books in many different age ranges/formats - this is not an easy task! What advice do you have for authors who are looking to switch age ranges in their writing? 

Casey: I think the best thing you can do for yourself is read as much as possible for the category you’re looking to switch into. Get a sense of what works best for that format and age range. Look at topics and word count and structure. Every category has its purpose and its hallmarks so try and familiarize yourself with that. See what already exists and where you might be able to find your own niche.

Q: Sara, what advice do you have for illustrators who are looking to break into the Graphic Novel market?

Sara: Get comfortable drawing anything! Especially when illustrating comics, you need to know how to draw characters, expressions and poses, but also perspectives, backgrounds, and everything in between. I already worked full-time as an artist and illustrator for seven years before getting into graphic novels, and that was definitely helpful. It’s equally important to know how to sit down every day and do the work. Comics are very labor-intensive so you really have to be madly in love with the process, or else it’s easy to burn out. Then, make your own comics! Even just short ones, to share them online and add to your portfolio. That way, people can see what you can do and if you’re lucky, the right people see it and hire you!

Q: What makes your book a perfect read for readers of all ages, no matter the season? 

Sara: If you like funny stories, unique characters and clever pets, you’re in for a treat! No matter your age :) 

Casey: I think Sara definitely said this best. If you like to laugh, our story is for you! All year round!

BONUS QUESTION: Did you have hamsters growing up? If not, what was the most memorable pet you had?

Casey: No hamsters, but we did have a cat when I was growing up that I adored. Her name was Itchy and she was a stray that adopted our family. She was the most vocal cat I’ve ever met – you could have whole conversations with her! A one-of-a-kind cat.

Sara: No hamsters, but I had two curious guinea pigs, Fips and Trixi. I often built them little obstacle courses with little tunnels and ramps with my books and other stuff I found around the house. They also loved exploring and running free - safely, or course.

Would you like to offer a tip or a treat for our readers?

We're offering BOTH!

Tip from Sara: I know this is the most typical answer ever but drawing every day (or at least as often as possible), is the best way to improve your drawing skills. Think of it like training a muscle, the more you do it, the better you will become naturally.

Treat from Casey: I’m happy to offer a giveaway for a copy of The League of Littles. Whoever wins will have to be a little bit patient though since the book doesn’t come out until June 17th, but I’ll mail it out as soon as I have copies available! This giveaway is open to both US and Canada!

Thanks again for joining us, Casey and Sara! And thanks again for the wonderful tips and treats!

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win this amazing giveaway, 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to thank Sara and Casey for stopping by! Hamster GIFs are encouraged and welcomed, too.

Giveaway winners will be drawn and announced on or about 4/26!

Books will be shipped in the US and Canda only.

About Casey Lyall:

Casey Lyall lives in Southwestern Ontario where she also works at her

local library (and waits for Management to discover they’re actually paying her to have fun.) When she’s not writing, Casey loves to bake, doodle, and learn extremely groan-worthy jokes to tell her friends. Casey is the author of humorous books for kids such as GNOME IS WHERE YOUR HEART IS and A SPOONFUL OF FROGS (illustrated by

Vera Brosgol.) Her upcoming titles include THE LEAGUE OF LITTLES (Greenwillow Books, 2025 - illustrated by Sara Faber) and VAMPIRE JAM SANDWICH (Tundra Books, 2025 - illustrated by Nici Gregory.)

For more about Casey, check out the below links!

Website: https://www.caseylyall.com/

Instagram: @caseyklyall

Bluesky: @caseylyall.bsky.social

About Sara Faber:

Sara Faber is a Berlin-based comic artist and illustrator. Her work is inspired by the simple moments of everyday life, expressive characters and captivating

stories (and magic too!). Her favorite themes are slice of life, coming of age, friendship, romance and fantasy. She is currently working on her second graphic novel “The Band of Bigs”, written by Casey Lyall and published by Greenwillow Books. When she is not

working, she loves drawing in her sketchbook, working on personal comics, reading and going to coffee shops.

For more about Sara, check out the below links!

Website: Sara Faber

Instagram: @sarafaber

Bluesky: @sarafaber.bsky.social

YouTube: a week in my life as an artist, balcony makeover, painting, packing mail, concert | studio vlog

To get a closer look at their book, or to pre-order it from Harper Collins, click here.

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