A Pause and a Moment’s Breath: The Story Behind The Wingtip Elfins with Julie Carlyle-Hoggan

Julie Carlyle-Hoggan’s enchanting picture book The Wingtip Elfins, offers children a beautifully imagined world of invisible kindness-keepers who gently guide young minds through the trials and triumphs of everyday school life.

With characters like Kitty Kindness, Lennie Love, Trinny Truth and Gilbert Giggle, this story delicately celebrates emotional wellbeing, self-awareness and compassion – all from the quiet corner of a schoolhouse fireplace.

We spoke to Julie to find out more about the inspiration behind the elfins, her connection to childhood settings, and the values that flutter through every page.

What first sparked the idea of the Wingtip Elfins and their secret world within a school?

The idea came to me whilst I was working in an early years education setting. I always tried to talk to the children about the choices they made around kindness, compassion and telling the truth, and I began to dream of ways I could bring these values to life for them. We were located in a church hall with a beautiful red brick fireplace at its heart, which began to stir my imagination. And the Wingtip Elfins were born!

Each elfin represents a different quality, like kindness, truth and joy. How did you decide which traits to focus on?

I tried to notice each day the little challenges the children faced, such as difficulty with sharing, shyness or separation anxiety, and to think about how to help them understand and cope with the fear and frustrations they were feeling. After a while I realised that the solutions were largely love and kindness, sometimes honesty, and definitely a large amount of distraction through fun and laughter! Hence…..Kitty Kindness, Lenny Love, Trinny Truth and Gilbert Giggle!

The story has such a gentle rhythm and depth. What do you hope children will take away from it emotionally?

My hope is that the elfins can act as little role models to show children how to treat each other, and themselves, with empathy, patience and encouragement at times of anxiety or conflict.

Obviously children are very open with all their emotions, often overwhelmingly and irrationally. I wanted the soft presence of the elfins to bring ‘a pause and a moment's breath’, allowing just a split second of mindfulness to help children find the resilience to cut through any upset with a spark of loving calm and clarity.

If you had your own Wingtip Elfin following you around during the day, which one would you choose?

That is a tricky question, as I’m sure I'd like each of them at different times and in different circumstances throughout my day… especially Gilbert Giggle.

I think I'd have to choose Lennie Love, though, as love can ease and improve pretty much any situation!

There’s a real warmth in how the classroom and its little dramas are described. Were you drawing from personal memories or observations when writing those scenes?

The five scenarios I featured in the story were ones that I saw over and over during my years working at a preschool. Small challenges in the larger scheme of life, but often all-consuming at such a young age.

I always considered it a privilege to be one of the first people, outside of the family, for the children to spend independent time with during the day. There were many emotional moments along the way, as the children learnt to cope socially, without their parents, and take on new challenges. I took pride in being able to reassure and encourage them and watch their confidence grow.

The scenes are very typical incidents in any early school setting, which I hope will resonate with the reader's own experience.

What drew you to write a story that explores emotional growth in such a poetic and imaginative way?

I wanted the emotional learning to be presented in a way that children could access through a lyrical read-aloud story. I am a great believer in early years teaching through play and imagination, where the child does not even realise that the fun they are having is offering learning as well as amusement.

My hope is that, through enjoyment of story time, these little elfins, with the values they model and the mindfulness they bring, might help children more naturally to choose kindness towards others and to learn resilience and confidence for themselves.

I like to see them as fun little mascots of compassion, colour and calm.

What was it like working with illustrator Caner Soylu to bring the elfins to life visually?

Caner was a joy to work with, and I was delighted with his wonderful illustrations. I can't thank him enough for his amazing talent and creativity and for bringing The Wingtip Elfins to life on the page.

Do you have any writing routines or rituals that help you settle into your creative space?

I actually wrote this book pretty much entirely outside. I love to be in the fresh air, and being amongst nature helped me to breathe life into each elfin… Kitty with the strength of an oak tree's green, Lennie's glow of cherishing rose petal red, Trinny's sea spray breeze of truth and Gilbert with his yellow sunshine light. I wrote the book mainly in the sanctuary of my little garden, where I feel relaxed and so happy. And I wrote it with joy and light-heartedness. I can honestly say I loved every moment of creating The Wingtip Elfins.

Outside of writing, what brings you joy or helps you reconnect with your sense of wonder?

I would go straight to the people in my life when asked what brings me joy – my husband and sons, wider family and my friends. They are all very important to me.

My sense of wonder is inspired by so many things. I love camping and being outdoors – in the woods or the hills, under the stars or on the beach. I love walking, yoga, reading, travelling, music, snorkelling and swimming in the sea. I love London, the River Thames and the Chiltern Hills, where I live. I love old buildings. I love new experiences, new places, and new books.  As I said before, so many things!

How can readers connect with you or follow your journey as an author?

The Wingtip Elfins have their own Instagram page! Readers can find them (and me!) there.

@the_wingtip_elfins