Catherine sits down with The wonderful Stranges author Melanie Koster and her daughter Monica Koster who beautifully illustrated this lovely book, The Wonderful Stranges is a story about inclusion; being open minded and how accepting others just as they are can be an enriching experience. It is a celebration of creativity, imagination and innovation. The Strange family embrace the arts and sciences, with inventions, including some for sustainable living. Accompanied by glorious, whimsical illustrations, this delightful book with themes of kindness and acceptance, that draws attention to climate change is a very timely book. Melanie Koster wrote the first draft of The Wonderful Stranges in 2011, in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes. The story had some success in various writing competitions and was then shelved in the bottom drawer. After a little tweaking, the story was ready to see the light of day again and she thinks its message is more relevant now than ever. Melanie Koster has been shortlisted six times for the Joy Cowley Award finally winning in 2022. She haswritten many children’s books including Elephant Park, Tama and the Taniwha and Milly Maloo and the Miracle Glue. Monica Koster is an artist and illustrator who has just completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours at the University of Canterbury. Her paintings have been exhibited in Christchurch and Ashburton as part of the Creator’s Room and ZONTA Female Art Awards Exhibitions.