I Turned My Sons into Chipmunks

I turned my sons into chipmunks—and then wrote a book about it.

Some people ask why I wrote a children’s book. For me, the answer is simple: when my boys talk to each other, they sound like chipmunks—it makes for a funny story. My wife agrees. They scurry around the house, always underfoot, collecting things, burying random objects, and eating constantly. Watching them in their natural state, it’s clear—they’re wild woodland creatures, just living in my home.

Their antics bring back memories of my own childhood—when I was a chipmunk. My twin brother and I would speak in squeaks and giggles, darting from place to place, constantly searching for whatever we could get our hands on. We were wild, untamed, and endlessly curious about the world.

Before our first son we call Julian was born, my wife and I made a promise to each other: we would raise our kids to love reading, art, and adventure, just as we do. We’re not against technology, TV, or social media. We just wanted our children to experience these things at the right time, in the right way. Our approach worked better than we hoped. Now we have two boys—Julian and his younger brother, Ethan—and both of them throw themselves into the world with the same curiosity and joy that we did. They love music and art. They find happiness walking through the forest and climbing trees. They even enjoy quiet moments with a book or writing in their journals.

Watching them discover the world in these ways, I’m constantly reminded of how important it is to keep imagination alive.

Seeing that spark of imagination in our children fills us with joy. It reminds me of the sense of wonder I had growing up. Imagination is a gift—one of the greatest gifts we have as humans. Nurturing that gift is vital if you want a life that feels full and rich.

That’s why I wrote the Chubby Bubbies series. My sons have mastered the art of soaring on the wings of imagination, and it inspires me every day. If these books inspire a spark of imagination in even one child, I’ll have done what I set out to do.