Interview: Rachel Burrows

Little Thoughts Press Issue Thirteen: Head, Shoulders, Spleen and Nose with a sneak peek of the story "Benny's Bellybutton" by Rachel Burrows.

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Rachel Burrows' writing for children can be found in Northern Gravy, The Toy, Tyger Tyger, Little Thoughts Press and The Dirigible Balloon. She is an Undiscovered Voices 2026 Winner and was also shortlisted for the Cheshire Novel Kids Prize 2025 and the Write Mentor Picture Book Writing Competition 2023.  Her work was recently selected by John Agard to appear in the Poems on the Move Exhibition for The Guernsey Literary Festival. She teaches and runs the library in an SEMH school near Stonehenge in England and has her best ideas whilst walking her dog, Fennel. She is happiest in the sea.

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Little Thoughts Press: "Benny's Bellybutton" is such a fun, lively story that wonderfully captures the goofy, playful nature of young kids. What was the initial spark for this story and how did you go about deciding which body parts would speak up?

Rachel Burrows: Initially, I think it was watching the youngest children at school lifting the fronts of their T-shirts over their faces or poking their elbows out of their jumper sleeves and finding it so funny. 

But then I started to think about how hard it is when you are small to sit still to listen to a story when there is so much in the classroom to be distracted by—not least of all your own imagination and wonder! And it doesn’t mean you aren’t listening!

Body parts—well it had to be the bellybutton didn’t it! What a wonderfully weird thing it is. It sounds so great to say too with the rhythm of the word and all those ‘l’s and ‘b’s —such friendly sounding letters! And knees—well that was a no-brainer, they deserve a moment don’t they. And with more ‘l’s and ‘b’s—the elbows of course. I love the word elbow. It’s even better in German—Elbogen. And three was enough—the power of three is a wonderful thing.

Little Thoughts Press:  What advice can you offer fellow writers for crafting lively, active scenes like you've created in "Benny's Bellybutton"?

Rachel Burrows: I see it in my mind’s eye. What is happening? What noises are there? What are the reactions? What is it building up to? How is it building? Having said that, I don’t really plan that—it’s just in my head as I’m writing. My main editing question to myself is always, ‘Can I feel it?’ If I can’t, I play with it some more. I love writing dialogue, I think that helps.

Little Thoughts Press: I think at some point or another, we've all imagined our belly buttons talking. If your belly button could talk, what would it say today?

Rachel Burrows: Today it would be a muffled squeak! It might ask me why I don’t show it the sun anymore! And I would ask it, what’s on the other side—what’s on the inside of a bellybutton? 

Little Thoughts Press: In a past interview you shared your favorite kid-lit books and recommendations. Are there any recent books you've read and really enjoyed that you can share with us?

Rachel Burrows: I adore The Gnome Book by Loes Riphagen—ust so much to look at and enjoy. Don’t Trust Fish makes me laugh just to think about. And The Unfairies by Huw Aaron is so much fun too. I read Tuck Everlasting for the first time recently and thought it was extraordinary. Anthony McGowan has a new book out called Birdlands which I can’t wait to read. I will always adore So Devin Wore a Skirt because the author Shireen Lalji was the first one in my fabulous crit group to get published—so I feel like the proud aunty of it!

Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share?

Rachel Burrows: Well I have had the most extraordinary writing month and time after time I have had to pinch myself and wonder about the fact that my writing has taken me to these places. A few weeks ago I went to the beautiful island of Guernsey for their literary festival because my poem had been chosen by John Agard to be part of a Poems on the Move Exhibition. And just a few days ago I was celebrating being an Undiscovered Voices ’26 winner at an incredible ceremony in London. I got to meet Louis Stowell! I have made so many new friends which is not something you think about when you start writing! I am busy submitting my middle-grade novel now—and it’s looking hopeful. 

Thank you so much for choosing "Benny". It’s the best feeling ever when someone loves a character and story as much as I do!