by Matthew | Sep 2, 2015 | Bobbledy Kids, Fun Things to Do, Kids, Life, Projects |
For a long time, the kids had no idea what Robbi and I do for a living. They know we’re “working” because we shut the door to the studio and tell them to amuse themselves in the living room. But for all they know “working” means eating pretzels and watching Netflix. Alden learned Robbi was an illustrator from one of the kids at her school. Once Kato found out that I am a writer, he naturally assumed that I was responsible for the words in all the books in the world.
These complicated concepts seem to have finally distilled into a collective understanding that Robbi and I make books together (some small subset of all the books in the world) and that we sell them in an attempt to make money.
Once all these dimensions clicked into one pleasing package, the kids realized that they had a golden opportunity to walk in our footsteps—and to reap the (imagined) riches that might result.
And so they took out their markers and made a banner.
They took out their scissors and folded single sheets of paper to make small books. (As explained in the tutorial in the back of recent Bobbledy title I Looked Out the Window And).
They took out their pens and wrote stories, to which they added drawings.
Instantly recognizing the shortcomings of their parents’ far-too-focused-on-books-alone strategy, they conned their mother into ordering a big bag of lollipops online, that their store might offer sweet treats to complement the reading process.
They dumped the staples from our staple bin and placed their various titles just so.
They convinced their father to lug their art table down to the corner of Queen Street and High. They set up shop. They beamed enthusiastically at the passers by.
And almost instantly, commerce happened.
People stopped to buy finished books and blank books or to have a hands-on tutorial on how to make their own book.
There were ample opportunities for real-time math lessons as they were forced to make change.
The list of available books contained such winning titles as: That’s Not Cool, Sometimes Dogs Eat Macaroni and Cheese, and Kitty Cat the Acrobat.
About twenty minutes after the shop had opened for business, the inventory was depleted. Kato gladhanded customers while Robbi and Alden raced inside to make more books.
It was a rather successful first day. I’m pretty sure the kids made more than Robbi and I did at our first day selling our wares at a book show.
But then again, we didn’t have the benefit of setting up next to Chestertown’s most popular bakery. Nor are we nearly as blessed with those elusive intangibles that help drive sales—youthful enthusiasm, earnest wonder, and…lollipops.
by Robbi | Sep 1, 2015 | Alaska, Life |
Hello everyone! We’re starting off September with a MYSTERY! A mystery that one of you will hopefully solve!
When we were up in Alaska, we found a MYSTERIOUS piece of trash along the shoreline of the beach.
It didn’t look like the regular trash that washes up (empty bottles, pieces of net, jellyfish, etc) – there was a styrofoam box (on the left) attached to a stretchy rubbery material (on the right).
The styrofoam box had some MYSTERIOUS wires coming out of it:
And taped to the back of the styrofoam box was a MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE!
What in the world could it BE, we wondered?
Do any of YOU have an idea of what it might be? Make your suggestions in the comments and whoever gets it first wins a free book! Or, if nobody gets it right, we’ll pick whoever comes up with the most interesting answer! So put on your sleuthing hats and let us know what you think it might be…
by Matthew | Jun 7, 2015 | Commercial Publishing, Life |
Not long ago, we spent the day with a photographer from LA and photo stylist from New York. They were in town to snap photos of our tiny tribe for a feature in Family Circle Magazine.
Some weeks have passed since then, but we were vaguely aware that the issue with our family’s story would be coming out this summer. It being June, Robbi thought to have a look at the magazine rack while we were shopping yesterday (a kind of miracle, frankly).
And look what she found!
There we were in the table of contents. Which kept us from the desperate scramble to thumb through every page attempting to find ourselves (a quest we have not yet completed in 40 years of trying).
The children were excited. Or was it horrified? I couldn’t quite tell.
Kato immediately proclaimed that his appearance fee was going to double.
August made an esoteric comment about the surprising quality of the printing.
We bought a few copies and brought them home, where we exhausted ourselves trying to get a decent selfie with both of us and the magazine. We gave up, eventually. Here is the least conspicuous failure. If only Ari (the Family Circle photographer) had been on hand to document the moment.
Here is the online version, which includes the entire interview.
And here is the print version, with an embarrassing pull-quote about my lack of taste in music (that I fully admit to having said) and more photos of hard-hitting family action.
For those of you who are desperate to buy a copy for archival preservation and/or framing (thanks, Mom!), here’s the cover to look for.
It seems only fitting that it features a truly gratuitous strawberry shortcake, which is, if you are not aware, one of our many family traditions.
Thank you, Family Circle, for giving our family this opportunity. That’s you, Lisa Kelsey and Suzanne Rust! And you Tina Anderson and Ari Michelson!
Not only was this incredibly fun, but it gave us an excellent excuse to clean our damn house. And to get a few new shirts. Maybe you guys could come around every six months or so to keep us in line?
Or at least threaten to?
by Matthew | May 26, 2015 | Commercial Publishing, Life |
Ever since joining forces with Macmillan, we have felt an even greater fondness for the Flatiron Building. It had always been one of our favorite New York City landmarks, but now it is a second home of sorts. And so, when I found myself in the Lego Store with the kids yesterday afternoon, I simply could not resist the allure of the tiny Lego Flatiron. It was if it had been placed there for the express purpose of emptying my wallet.
I can try to justify the purchase in a number of ways. For example, included is a colorful brochure that outlines the building’s history. If I am to write books for Macmillan, it is critical that I know the history of the Flatiron, from construction to present day, right?
Or, I could argue that the purchase was made entirely worthwhile by the fact that the tiny Lego Flatiron came with a Lego brick separator. Why the dozens of other Lego sets I have acquired throughout my life did not come with a brick separator is a puzzle to me. Of course I had to buy the tiny Flatiorn. Of course I did.
But none of these explanations is quite accurate, I think. The reason I purchased the tiny Lego Flatiron boils down to one simple thing.
To enjoy my building experience.
And how could I not? The prospect of 471 deliberately interlocking pieces lured me to the flat table instead of to my bed, where I would otherwise have been in the post-children hours of Sunday night. I was too excited.
As was my co-conspirator, she who shares my emerging fondness for the actual, non-tiny Flatiron. As construction began, she was the designated “presser together of small plastic bricks.”
I was the “holder of instruction manual” and “supplier of bricks needed for subsequent step.”
As with any building, our tiny Lego Flatiron required a sturdy foundation.
But unlike the actual Flatiron, which took more than an hour to erect, our tiny version creeped quickly upward.
At a critical moment, we were directed to turn one of the seemingly parallel outer walls inward. The Flatiron is triangular, after all.
At another moment—and perhaps I should spare my co-conspirator the embarrassment of reporting on this detail, but will not for the sake of hard-hitting journalistic integrity—Robbi installed some of the tiny windows sideways and was forced to use the Lego brick separator to pry them loose.
You might think she would have leapt at the opportunity, and yet…
The windows adjusted and the side panel complete, we started enhancing the tiny Flatiron central core with its grand facade.
Whoever designed this set had to make difficult decisions, distilling fine detail down into gestures that suggest the feeling the building evokes. Which is majesty and style. I love the design of the molding around the top of the building, the way it curves gently outward like a subtle crown.
Once the Fifth Avenue side of the building was complete, we started working on the back (which runs up against East 22nd Street).
And then the Broadway side.
The final step was the roof. Look how ingeniously it fits into the little couplings inside. I loved Lego then and I love it just as much today. I love how it keeps evolving as I do.
Many thanks to the co-conspirator.
And thanks to the tiny Flatiron, for giving me reason to break through the decades-long hiatus from buying Legos for myself. We have yet to decide where it will live, but know that it will be a place of highest honor.
Thanks also to the actual Flatiron, which has recently invited us to come inside.
Here is the 8th-floor conference room, where we recently met with our editor Erin and our agent Meredith to discuss books present and future.
In the box were ridiculously large and delicious donuts (one of which was glazed with hibiscus-flavored frosting, lower left).
Out the window…
Was the whole wide world.
While the kids caught up on the latest direct-to-DVD classics…
…we joined forces with book-wise friends in the pointy conference room.
After our meeting, Erin showed us her office, which is kind of like a wonderland
Alden tried to pose for the photo below. She really, really tried, but there was just too much to look at.
How can a seven-year-old book enthusiast be expected to stand and mug when such bounty was on hand?
Including, in case you missed it, down there in the corner, a few titles our most loyal readers might find familiar.
Erin’s tour included a magical book of the pop-up variety. (In the doorway is Erin’s excellent assistant Nicole, who has already saved our butts on several occasions.)
Beyond big donuts and a sojourn in the pointy conference room, Erin saved the best surprise for last. A trip to the 19th floor to visit the Flatiron’s only balcony.
It was like standing on the prow of the Titanic, were the Titanic to be anchored in the middle of Manhattan. Here, the view was even grander. Whether looking out…
…or up.
The kids have no idea how lucky they are to have had the chance to stand in that spot.
And frankly, as hard as we try, neither do we. We try as hard as we can to keep a firm grasp on the enormity of our good fortune, to be grateful at every moment for the wild turns of this ever-unpredictable journey in books and making stuff together.
But then stuff like this happens.
It is good that our Barn is but two stories tall. The view from the 19th floor of the Flatiron is the sort of thing that should only be sampled in tiny bites, and only every once in a while.
by Robbi | Jan 12, 2015 | Life |
Apparently ice cream is a VERY popular topic (who knew?) – in our informal facebook poll, we got more responses than we’ve ever got for anything except maybe for things like having babies and staying married year after year. We asked what people’s favorite flavors of ice cream were, and got some of the basics (Edy’s Mint Chip, Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia) but we also got educated on some local creameries doing interesting things – it seems the smaller you are, the more outrageous flavors you can try. The standard larger-scale production lines look something like this (this is easily the best use of highly synchronized production equipment there ever was):
Now that we’ve got your mouths watering, here’s what we discovered from our highly scientific research:
- A lot of people like mint. Lulu’s Backyard Mint Chip, Three Twins Mint Confetti, Penn State Creamery’s Bittersweet Mint and then your standby Edy’s and Breyers chocolate chip mints.
- There is such a thing as a “Pints Club” in which you get your delicious ice cream delivered to your door (the Bobbledy Books of ice cream!) so you don’t waste any calories going out to the store (or Portland or LA or Baltimore) to buy some. See HERE. This is dangerous information. Treat it as such.
- Some very interesting combinations were discussed: Dark Chocolate with Meyer Lemon, Lemon Sorbet with espresso poured over it, Curry and Peanut (!?!?), and my favorite, 9 Months (pickle flavor!!!). (My favorite in the sense that it is pure crazy, not that I would ever put it in my mouth (oh, but I probably would!)).
Kato and I had been planning to make ice cream for his birthday (more on that later), so I shared the list of ice creams with him, in the hopes that it might stir his imagination for some fun flavors.
And so, as another informal poll, I’d like you to guess what flavors he requested in the comments section below. Add to it what flavors you’d be interested to taste that you’ve never had before. Hmmmmm….
And stay tuned for the upcoming post where we actually make the ice cream (a recipe that doesn’t require an ice cream maker!).
by Robbi | Dec 22, 2014 | Life |
Hi Folks!
Believe it or not – we are IN THE DESERT! As a surprise 40th birthday present for Matthew, I planned a secret trip out west to visit the desert. If you’d like a much more detailed run-down, you can check out his post on the Robbi and Matthew site.
But that’s all beside the point. The point is, the desert is so cool!
I mean, LITERALLY. Apparently I did not do enough research on deserts before we left and thought it would be at least WARM. Nope. Chilly. Cold. It is winter, after all. And so in all of these photos we’re wearing the same clothes, because I only packed one set of warm clothes. Whoops!
The desert is actually full of surprises. For example, it isn’t just empty and sandy. There are all kinds of interesting plants in the desert. My favorites are the cacti, which come in all different shapes and sizes.
There are these fuzzy guys who look like muppets to me:
but who definitely don’t FEEL like muppets (and I’ll send a free something or other to anyone who can identify that cactus for me!). And then there was this heart-shaped one we found that Alden especially liked:
The desert also surprised me by not being totally flat. We discovered lots of cool rock formations that were good for climbing:
And some very strange ones that were good for exploring:
We were also surprised by a coyote we spotted. Can you find him in this picture? You can see that coyotes have excellent desert camouflage:
It makes me wonder about all of the creatures and things and surprises that we DIDN’T see.
Do you know any surprising facts about the desert? Share them here or on the Bobbledy Facebook page. Maybe you could give me some tips on what we should be looking for out here, because clearly I did not come prepared.
