At first glance, the idea of a giraffe and a hummingbird, or a bat and a polar bear, seems completely bizarre. But as we dive deeper into Odd Couples by Maria Birmingham and illustrated by Raz Latif, we quickly learn that there’s much more that unites these unlikely pairings than meets the eye. Through engaging and surprising animal comparisons, this book invites readers to explore the similarities that exist even when differences seem striking. Keep reading for an exclusive interview with Ontario-based author Maria Birmingham, where she shares her inspiration behind this delightful book and the lessons she hopes young readers will take away.
Are you looking for an excellent book to help guide children in exploring big ideas? For parents and educators, this book offers an excellent opportunity to guide children in discovering how to look beyond the surface and find connections in the world around them. Recently nominated for a 2025 Silver Birch Express Award from the Forest of Reading® , Odd Couples is not just a fun and engaging read—it’s a fantastic way to teach young learners valuable lessons in empathy, curiosity, and understanding. At Teachers on Call, our in-person and online tutors believe that education should inspire both academic growth and emotional intelligence. This book beautifully aligns with our approach, fostering curiosity and connection—whether at home or in the classroom.
Why the Forest of Reading Inspires a Nation of Young Book Lovers
The Forest of Reading is Canada’s largest recreational reading program, and each year, it encourages children and teens from coast to coast to dive into incredible Canadian books. Organized by the Ontario Library Association, the program features ten award categories in both English and French, celebrating authors and illustrators across all age groups. What makes it truly special is its student-centered approach: young readers don’t just read the books—they choose the winners by voting for their favourites each spring. The program wraps up with the Forest of Reading Festival at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8), a vibrant event where students, educators, and authors come together to celebrate their shared love of reading. At Teachers on Call, our online and in-home tutoring service is proud to support initiatives that spark excitement about literacy and teach students the value of their voice in the process. We love that the program features summer reading recommendations curated by its kid and teen committees—check them out here!
About the Author: Maria Birmingham
Maria Birmingham is an accomplished children’s author and freelance writer with over 20 years of experience in the publishing world. After starting her career as managing editor at OWL Magazine, Maria shifted to freelance writing and editing, contributing regularly to OWL and CBC Kids. Her passion for storytelling led her to write her first book, Weird Zone: Sports, and she has since published several others, including Tastes Like Music, A Beginner's Guide to Immortality, and Acting Wild. Maria lives in Brampton, Ontario, where she enjoys spending time with her two children. Odd Couples, continues her exploration of the natural world in a fun, educational, and creative way.
About the Illustrator: Raz Latif
Raz Latif is a Toronto-based illustrator and designer known for his vibrant, emotive, and expressive artwork. With a Bachelor of Design from OCAD University (100 McCaul St, Toronto, ON M5T 1G1), Latif has contributed to various creative projects, including children's books, editorial pieces, and advertising campaigns. His work has been recognized by platforms such as American Illustration, Illustration Age, and Supersonic Art. Latif's illustrations for Odd Couples bring a playful and engaging visual dimension to the book's exploration of surprising animal similarities
In Conversation with Maria Birmingham: The Inspiration Behind Odd Couples and the Power of Curiosity
You’ve mentioned that a giraffe's nighttime hum and a bat's snow-digging behaviour inspired the book. Could you share more about how these specific facts led to the development of Odd Couples?
I tend to be curious and pay particular attention when I hear or read unusual facts. I came across an article about humming giraffes and was intrigued. It made me think about hummingbirds, but I didn’t know what to do with the information, so I filed it away in my “Ideas” folder. A few weeks later, I was reading about a particular bat that digs a snow cave like a polar bear. That got me thinking some more: A bat that’s like a polar bear? And giraffes are like hummingbirds? With that, I immediately thought: odd couples! And a book idea was born. I decided to do a bit more research to see how many more unusual pairings I could track down, and sure enough, I realized there were plenty I could include in a book. And the more surprising, the better. That’s when I really got down to writing my first draft.
What sparked the idea to explore these unlikely pairings, and how did you decide which animals to feature?
As I mentioned, it was really those two animal pairs: giraffes and hummers, plus bats and polar bears that sparked my idea for Odd Couples. As for deciding which other animals to feature, I tried to search out creatures of all types—from mammals to fish to birds. I wanted to include a wide variety of animals that would appeal to young readers. It was hard to choose creatures. For instance, I thought about pairing the sea otter with the seahorse, since they both have pouches. But I went with the wombat over the cute otter because I felt it might be more interesting to pair a land mammal with a sea creature. But, to be honest, I’m still thinking about that otter and the pocket pouches it has under its arms. Maybe it will find its way into a future book someday!
Odd Couples highlights surprising similarities between animals. How do you hope this book fosters empathy and a deeper appreciation for the natural world among young readers?
I hope readers see that all animals—us included!—are unique but also have things in common with each other. And perhaps that’ll help readers appreciate that we’re more alike that we might think. So while it’s important to celebrate our differences, we might also value the way we are the same. I think books like Odd Couples help to show us the wonders of the natural world. We may already know a bit about particular animals like giraffes, sharks, and koalas, but sometimes it’s eye-opening to see them in a different way. I hope young readers see there’s always something new to learn about our world and its creatures.
Given your extensive experience in children's publishing, what do you believe is the most important lesson young readers can take away from Odd Couples?
I hope readers take away that it’s important to have a sense of curiosity about the world around them. Sometimes if we look at our world more closely or from another angle, we can learn remarkable facts about it. And maybe these facts will even inspire us to look at ourselves differently, too.
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Odd Couples reminds us that curiosity can uncover unexpected connections, and that empathy often begins with simply noticing what we share. Through its playful pairings and surprising facts, the book offers a meaningful lesson for readers of all ages: that the world is full of wonder if we’re willing to look a little closer. Check out more from our Hooked on Books series of interviews with Canadian authors and illustrators who are helping young readers grow through the power of storytelling. For more Canadian book picks for animal lovers, read our recent interview with Forest of Reading nominee Lisa Deresti Betik, originally from Sault Ste. Marie in Northern Ontario and now based in Waterloo, Ontario, featuring her non-fiction book Think Like a Goat.
