Reader Q&A with Andy Seed

Interview with a Shark is a non-fiction book with a difference - it takes the question "if you could talk to animals, what would you ask?" and runs with it, with illustrated interviews with 10 extraordinary ocean giants. 

The silly questions and answers are not just packed with humour but also with fascinating facts and advice on how to protect endangered animals too.

Toppsta readers say: 

"There were lots of interesting facts me and mummy didn’t know. It was funny when shark called Andy ‘Mr Annoying’ and when he said it’s hard for him to get chips to eat." OA, aged 7

"It was really interesting to find out new facts about different sea creatures, with lots of silliness thrown in which made me laugh! I can’t wait to share it with my friends at school and I think my teacher will find it very cheeky!" Sopjoy, aged 6

Oscar aged 7 won the chance to turn the questions around and interview author Andy Seed about writing the book! Read on for their Q&A.

Interview with a HUMAN… (Andy Seed)!

Hi Andy, how does it feel being the one being interviewed today? Will you be cheeky to me like Wolf or grumpy like Ocean Sunfish??

I will be a special combination of polite and silly.

Has any animal ever tried to eat you? 

Not many, only about 5,000 insects such as midges, gnats, mosquitos and horseflies. Luckily, they are all MUCH smaller thank tigers and sharks. (Just imagine if you went for a stroll in Scotland and a swarm of tigers jumped out of a bush…).

Which was your trickiest interview?

Possibly the Blue Whale. He just wanted to talk about how big his poos were while I had all kinds of serious and brilliant questions about being endangered and why whales don’t wear hats.

I loved the jokes Octopus told you. What’s your best joke?

I get all my jokes from molluscs now. Snails are hilarious if you just give them a chance to share their best comedy lines. My favourite joke? Erm, how about this one: What’s a mouse’s favourite game? Hide and squeak. Actually a slug told me that.

Do you and Nick sit together eating biscuits when you make the books or do you work separately? (and what is your favourite biscuit?)

Nick and I would like to sit together but there are a couple of problems. First, he lives 200 miles away from me (we’d need a REAALLLY long desk) and secondly he eats all the biscuits and gets crumbs on my writing. Nobody likes that. Or is it me who eats all the biscuits? I can’t remember – anyway, it’s one of us. Fav bic is a Tunnocks Caramel Wafer. Does that count? Anyway, I want one NOW.

What is your favourite creature and why?

Probably the butterfly because they don’t buzz or sting, they’re lovely colours, and one has never thrown a custard pie in my face (unlike some other animals…).

Which interview did you most enjoy so far? (Mine are Bull Shark, Blue Whale & Polar Bear)

Oh, I liked the Giant Anteater and the Orca. And all the rest. Oh how can you CHOOSE?

Is it hard being funny all of the time?

I’m not funny all the time. I take the fifth Tuesday in each month off.

Are there any creatures you are too scared to interview?

Tarantulas, Werewolves and Arsenal supporters.

Finally…I would LOOVEEEE to see ‘Interview with a PENGUIN & other winged creatures too’ next!! What do you think?

That’s a very good idea. Everyone loves penguins, even those really small ones with the evil red eyes. I’ll ask Nick if he can draw them. Hang on, he’s eaten all the biscuits AGAIN!

Thank you Andy SEED