For members who don’t know you yet:
what gives a good sense of who you are?

Hey! My name is Joni Kroese Bosch, I’m 26 years old and I live in beautiful South Limburg (the Netherlands). For a few years now, I’ve been lucky enough to live out my big dream: bringing worlds to life for young children. This fits perfectly with my other work as a (kindergarten) teacher. I’m a huge bookworm myself and love to specialise in children’s literature. From that love, I also started writing stories for young children.

Fun fact: my all-time favourite children’s book is Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne. <3

What does your ideal creative flow look like?

In our cosy house, filled with “old stuff” and thrift store finds, I have a lovely spot where I work on my projects. With some music playing in the background, a cup of tea by my side, and my sweet cat Teun nearby, I function at my best. I’m naturally very enthusiastic and my head is often overflowing with ideas, so I don’t mind working (in a structured way) on several projects at once. Something something with The Very Hungry Caterpillar 😉. And when it comes to creative procrastination… I might be a bit boring there. Even back in school, I finished my homework at least a week before it was due, and that hasn’t really changed.

What kind of work feels closest to your heart, and why?

I love working on picture books for young children. The sense of wonder on kindergarteners’ faces during read-aloud moments never stops feeling magical to me. I find it important that a book has multiple layers and can be used in different ways, which is why many of my stories include an informative element, a search component, and an educational layer.

The compliment I secretly love the most is when children ask, at bedtime, to be read from one of my books again and again. That will always feel incredibly special. While all the projects I’ve worked on are close to my heart, the books about our dear Lies hold a particularly special place. I love returning to that world every time, the stories flow naturally and feel very close to children. On top of that, Lies opened many doors for me in this beautiful book world, and for that I will always be grateful.

What’s a deeper part of your creative process that often stays unseen?

A big part of my process happens quietly in my head. The initial idea for a story usually comes quite quickly, but it can take weeks before I actually put it down on paper. When I finally do, I tend to write it all in one go. What quietly makes the biggest difference for me is listening to and observing children closely. they are the most honest and beautiful source of inspiration. And when things feel slow or difficult, I keep going by thinking about the many children, teachers, and parents who will one day work with my stories, as well as the faces of the children in my class when I show them a new book.

What drew you to The Storymakers Club, and how do you usually show up in a creative community?

The children’s book world feels like such a warm and inspiring place, and I really enjoy expanding my network and learning from other makers. In a community, I usually start out as a quiet observer. I can be a bit shy and like to take my time to get a feel for the space. Once I feel comfortable and have found my footing, I love becoming more of an active sharer. What makes me feel instantly welcome is openness, and the sense that we’re truly here to support each other and grow together.

How do you feel your creative journey has shifted over the past year?

Compared to a year ago, I dare to share new ideas much sooner and create or seize new opportunities by putting those ideas out into the world. At the same time, I’d like to give myself more permission to rest every now and then, and to truly enjoy what already exists instead of constantly looking ahead to the next step. What’s slowly unfolding for me is the realisation that making stories is something I genuinely want to continue with. Where it once felt like a lucky break - something that might stay with just one project now feels like a path I want to prioritise, simply because it makes me truly happy.

Looking at your creative life right now, what feels playful, surprising, and still in progress?

My younger creative self would probably be most surprised that I actually managed to get a book published at all. At the same time, I very much see myself as a work in progress in every possible way — I believe in learning for a lifetime. If my creative life had a theme song at the moment, it would be “So Easy to Fall in Love” by Olivia Dean.

To close, is there anything you’d like to share with other Storymakers?

We make stories together.
Let’s encourage one another and allow each other to shine.

Fotograaf: https://www.studiosijs.nl/
Website https//.www.jufjoni.nl
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jufjoni
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jufjoni_/