BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

JULY 30, 2025  

Megan Hess is the super talented and jaw-droppingly stylish creator of Claris: the Chicest Mouse in Paris, and if you’re wondering how Megan first came up with the idea for Claris, or whether she’s always dressed in high fashion, then wonder no longer!  

Megan has been kind enough to explain these VIMs (Very Important Matters), just in time for the paperback release of her third Claris tale, Claris: Bonjour Riviera. 

So, have a read of our Q&A with Megan below. 

And if your preschooler loves cute animals and even cuter outfits, then Claris: Bonjour Riviera is a charming seaside adventure they’ll absolutely adore.  

Enjoy!  

Five Quick Questions with Megan Hess...

KindiCare: What was your fashion style when you were a preschooler? 

Megan: Well, in all photos of me, I'm wearing everything!  

I am wearing layers upon layers. Nothing really makes sense. I've got skirts over trousers. I've got scarves half on one leg thrown on over the other side.  

I think, you could call it ‘eclectic,’ and I don't know what I was doing.  

Somehow it made sense to me when I was little, and maybe I didn't care so much what I was wearing. I think I was having too much fun creating, so all my outfits were crazy! 

KindiCare: Now that you’re a fully-fledged fashionista, what’s one accessory you always take with you? 

Megan: The thing that I love to carry with me is my special pen – my fountain pen that I used to do some of my very special line work with.  

I call the pen Monty, and it's very special to me. 

I've had the pen for a long time, and it actually is a traditional fountain pen where it takes ink in its bladder, and when it runs out of ink, you need to refill it.  

KindiCare: What’s your style when you’re creating a new Claris book – comfy or chic? 

Megan: The truth is, I'm very comfy to create, and then it's more glam to promote.  

So, when I'm working on a Claris book – when I'm writing or I'm illustrating – I'm in my studio, and I'm always in a very comfy outfit. It's still chic, but it's often very, very comfy, and something that just feels good to be able to think in, be creative in, and draw in. 

Then, when we're promoting Claris or I get ready for my picture to be at the very end of a Claris book, I definitely try and channel Claris. I always try and wear something that matches what Claris wore in that picture book, which is really fun to create. 

KindiCare: How did you first come up with the idea for Claris: the Chicest Mouse in Paris? 

Megan: Well, I was in Paris, working, and it was my last day, and I was about to fly home, and I was sitting on my balcony of the hotel that I was staying at.  

It's on the most beautiful street in Paris, with the most beautiful cheese shops and cafes and some of the most beautiful French food; and I gazed across to the rooftops, just to the other side, and saw a tiny little white mouse pop up and sort of look around.  

And this little mouse didn't look at me, but I suddenly thought, “Oh, that's it! My children's book will be about a mouse,” because imagine the adventures that that little mouse could have!  

She's in the best real estate in Paris. She's in the roof of the most beautiful building. She's got the best cheese shops downstairs. And I started to picture what all her friends might be. And who are they in Paris, and all the things that they could do.  

So, that's where the idea first came from for Claris: the Chicest Mouse in Paris. 

KindiCare: What do you love most about Claris: Bonjour Riviera, and why will preschoolers love it too? 

Megan: This is one of my favourite stories, because it's set on the French Riviera – one of the most amazing places in the world!  

Several years ago, I worked on a very special project illustrating for a very fancy hotel on the French Riviera called Hotel du Cap. And when I stayed there, the entire time that I was there, I was picturing what adventures Claris would have if she was on the French Riviera. 

So, Claris: Bonjour, Riviera is a really fun story.  

Claris meets a very special little bird that can sing. All her animal friends end up coming along, and she has a great seaside adventure.  

There's also a very mean chef. A really mean one, but you need some mean characters in these books. And like all of the Claris stories, Bonjour Riviera is a lot about helping someone and getting into an adventure. 

KindiCare: Thanks so much for your time, Megan, and if you (dear reader) would like to see just how chic Megan is, scoot on over to our socials and watch this Q&A as a reel.