‘She left a lot of light in the world’

CLASSIC: Kiwi kids will fondly recall Grandpa's Slippers, which was adapted into a stage show. Picture supplied

Tuesday will mark one year since the passing of author Valerie Joy Watson (nee Evans), who was born in Gisborne in 1938.

In all she wrote 15 books for children, as well as a musical, The Circus, and many poems and nonsense rhymes, which are published in anthologies.

Born into a farming family, Valerie started her writing career with poems for members of her family.

She was born on February 21, 1938, and went on to write a series of books including Grandpa's Slippers, Grandpa's Cardigan, Grandpa's Shorts, Grandpa's Shed and Grandpa's Cat, loosely based on her husband Kevin.

In 2015 Grandpa's Slippers was nominated for the Great Kiwi Classic and was adapted into a stage show.

Described as a “great book to teach children that it's OK to have your opinion, but it's OK to listen to advice as well”, Grandpa's Slippers has been published in several foreign languages including French (Les pantoufles de grand-papa) and Spanish (Las zapatillas del abuelo).

Valerie was married to pharmacist Kevin Watson and together they had nine children, one of whom is writer, singer, and musician Mary-anne Scott.

“Mum read widely and her love of words underpinned every aspect of her life,” Scott wrote.

“She often shared ‘listen to this' passages with us if we couldn't escape fast enough. She enjoyed puns, word play, cryptic crosswords and tongue twisters, and always remembered the lyrics to the songs Dad played on the piano late at night. Her board game of choice was Scrabble and woe betide anyone who took her on.

“Grandpa's Slippers was the book that struck a chord. She tapped into the psyche of grandparents — the quibbling, affectionate games they play — while also appealing to children's love of repetition and story.

“‘Good, that's how I like them' became a mantra, but I don't think any of us realised the extent and reach of Grandpa and his tatty slippers.”

After her mother's death, Scott wrote that she had left a lot of light in the world and a lot of love.

“The tide is out just now and the beachscape has altered. But the ocean still stretches all the way to the horizon.”