NEW YORK — Sally Hunter already had a family, but she created another as a little reminder about how sweet and wonderful the first one was.
Hunter is the author and illustrator of the "Humphrey's Corner" book series (Henry Holt), which focuses on 3-year-old Humphrey; his 5-year-old sister, Lottie; and 1-year-old brother, Baby Jack.
"I wanted to capture the magicalness of young children, how they see things with such innocence," she says.
The characters' inspirations, Hunter's 4-, 11- and 13-year-olds, easily recognize how fiction imitates real life.
"They like looking over my shoulder when I work," says Hunter during a phone interview from her home in Hertfordshire, England. "They kind of smile because sometimes I take situations straight from my memory — and they remember, too! They even recognize clothes they wore and toys they had."
There is one striking difference, however, between Hunters' children and the book characters: Humphrey and his siblings are elephants.
"When I first started, I had two storyboards with other animals. I had done a duck and a bear. But the company I took them to had done a duck and a bear. So I asked 'What haven't you done?' They came up with an elephant."
Humphrey actually got his start three years ago in greeting cards, the business Hunter already had worked in.
But, she says, she always envisioned a fictional family that would fuel books and toys. (Hunter is now working on her sixth "Humphrey" book, and stuffed versions are now in toy stores.)
She also fully expected children and parents beyond her own clan to embrace them.
"Maybe it's because I really love Humphrey and the other characters because they're based on my kids, so the love shows through," Hunter says. "I think that's why people are so generally touched by Humphrey."
And there's no end to the stories Humphrey, Lottie and Jack can tell.
"There is so much inspiration in the way kids think and the little world they live in. And there's a lot we (adults) can learn from kids. Writing these books helps remind me how simple life can be," Hunter explains.
She adds: "It helps me deal with stress. Whenever I feel overwhelmed I just off into Humphrey land."
Of course, not everything is always perfect, not even in "Humphrey land."
Hunter says her daughter, who is now as helpful and cheerful as can be, is haunted by the memory of her days as a bossy 5-year-old, since Lottie definitely has that trait.
And a battle might be brewing over Humphrey bragging rights between Hunter's two sons.
"My youngest now wants to be both Humphrey — because he's the main character, and be Baby Jack — because he's the cutest," she says with a sigh.