Q&A | Simply magical reads with Trevor Noah

PRINT HEAD: (Trevor) Noah’s fable

PRINT BLURB:

Trevor Noah’s latest endeavour is a tale for all ages. Into the Cut Grass, is a story of two friends — a boy and his teddy bear — and what happens when they run away from their Saturday chores and go beyond the garden gate. Inspired by Noah’s childhood and the stories he shared with his mother, we follow these two characters into the landscape of the unknown — The Uncut Grass. They spend a day talking to wise gnomes, watching snails race, understanding fate vs luck with coins tossing, and finally defeating the leaf monster.

What the critics say:

“A timely all-ages fable about the power of imagination and how we choose to see the world around us.” — The Washington Post

“The story is an illustrated fable about a young boy who journeys into a magical world just beyond his house and discovers the secrets of sharing, connection and love. It’s sure to leave an impact long after you’ve finished it.” — Oprah Daily

“ Noah has written a parable about decision-making. As he puts it ... ‘It’s about disagreements and difference — but it’s also about how we bridge those gaps and find what matters most... It’s a picture book, but it’s not a children’s book. Rather, it is a book for kids to share with parents and for parents to share with kids’.” — Kirkus Reviews

We asked Noah a few questions about his new book:

It’s really not easy writing a book for children. There are so many decisions and choices you have to take the reader into account. How different was it to writing your memoir Born a Crime?

Writing Into the Uncut Grass was a very different experience from Born a Crime. With Born a Crime, I had the freedom to explore complex themes and tell my story in detail. Writing for children, or in this case, writing a picture book for all ages, requires a much more concise and thoughtful approach. Every word counts, and you have to keep the reader engaged while making sure the message is clear and accessible. It’s about saying more with less and being mindful of the balance between text and illustration.

What was the biggest lesson from writing Into the Uncut Grass?

The biggest lesson I learned was how powerful simplicity can be. In a book like this —where the story is deceptively simple, — the message becomes even more impactful. It taught me that you don’t need complex plots or heavy dialogue to convey meaningful lessons — sometimes, the most profound messages are found in the simplest moments.

What was your first favourite book that you read by yourself? And what was your favourite book that was read to you?

The first book I remember reading by myself and loving was The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar by Roald Dahl. It was a mix of magic, adventure and life lessons that really captured my imagination. As for books that were read to me, The Little Prince was my favourite. It’s a story that holds so much meaning, and though I didn’t understand everything as a child, it stayed with me, and revealed its deeper messages as I grew older.

The biggest lesson I learned was how powerful simplicity can be

—  Trevor Noah

How did you and the illustrator work together? Was it a collaboration or did she decide on what to illustrate after reading your words?

It was a bit of both. Sabina Hahn is incredibly talented and brought her own vision to the story. After reading the text, she had creative freedom to interpret the characters and scenes, but we collaborated closely on making sure the illustrations aligned with the emotional tone of the story. She captured the whimsy and depth of the narrative beautifully, and her artwork added layers of meaning that complemented the words.

Was the rhyme — “Brush our teeth so our breath smells clean; wash our face in case we are seen; comb our hair to keep the lice away; and make our bed so we can start the day” — something your mother said to you?

(Laughs) It’s definitely inspired by the things my mother would say. She was big on routines and making sure we took care of ourselves. That rhyme captures her practical, no-nonsense approach to life and the importance she placed on being prepared for the day. It’s my way of bringing a bit of her voice into the story.

What chore do you hate doing now as much as you did as a child?

Making the bed. I just don’t see the point, and I guess that’s why it was so obvious for me to make it the obstacle in the book.

A troll, snails, coins and a leaf mountain monster. Why these characters?

Each of these characters represents a different challenge or obstacle that the boy and his toy bear encounter on their journey. The garden gnome symbolises the difficult, stubborn conflicts we sometimes face with others, while the snails are about patience and slowing down. The coins represent the weight of decisions, and the leaf mountain monster is about overcoming fear and uncertainty. They’re all rooted in the boy’s imagination but are tied to real-life lessons about problem-solving and navigating challenges.