My goal on this blog is often to get writers thinking about exciting hooks for picture books.
Robots? YES!
Zombies? ERMMMFFF! (“Yes!” in zombie-talk.)
Frankenstein? AHHHGGGRRROOOOOWWWZZZ! (“You bet your sweet bippy!” in Frankenstein-talk.)
How about all THREE in one book? (Sorry, that one broke my translation tool!)
Well, Annette Simon already beat you to it!
ROBOT ZOMBIE FRANKENSTEIN is the story of two nuts-and-bolts buddies who try to one-up another. So I wanted to see how Anette one-upped a fabulous ROBOT idea to make it a triple-threat.
TL: Annette…umm…HOW?
AS: Robots and zombies may be getting some extra attention now (and for that I’m grateful!), but I think that from a kid’s perspective, they’re pretty standard characters. Like pirates, superheroes, and outer space invaders, they aren’t new subjects, just fun ones, and why not combine? My youngest, who’s now 18 and soon to graduate from high school, came to his fifth birthday party wearing a pirate hat, a tie, and a chef’s apron.
TL: In your book, the robots try desperately to one-up another. This is brilliant, as you’ll often see young children doing this. I remember dance class when I was seven, a girl told the instructor she practiced for an hour every day. Then came shouts of “I practice two hours” until I finally said “well, I practice TEN hours a day”. So funny. At the time I thought I was impressing everyone, but now I realize they knew I was lying. Do you have a childhood one-upmanship experience that gave rise to the ROBOT ZOMBIE FRANKENSTEIN story?
AS: Hmm. Tara, I pinkie-promised my sister I would not divulge details. (Let’s just say I won. All the time.)
I wish I had some fantastic backstory about this book. The truth is not glamorous: Robot and Robot showed up in little snippets as I walked, cleaned my house, grocery-shopped, and waited in car pool. They crept in from the fringes while I was busy querying agents with other stories.
But I do want to share something that may be especially dear to readers of your blog. These two cartoons by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman have smiled from my fridge for years. (You can tell they’re old by their colors.)
My youngest is about to head off to college, and I’m realizing I will have to find another excuse, er, reason, as to why I’m not more prolific. Or else just get my butt back in chair.
It’s still complicated.
TL: Did you give your robot characters names as you were creating them? What do you think their names really are?
AS: I did kinda play around with names. For awhile, I thought of Robot and Robot as Cy and Borg, then Cy and Henry (Henry = the measuring unit of inductance– sounds smart, huh?) or Hecto (a computer measurement for 100). My fabulous editor, Mary Lee Donovan, sometimes nicknamed them Watson and…Isaac? Asimov? Chip? I can’t remember. In story discussions, we called them Purple and Green. In the end, they each said, “I, Robot.”
I hope one day the robots get a pet; I have a fun long list of pet names.
TL: Is there anything your robots wanted to be, but they didn’t get the chance to transform themselves? Anything cut out of the final version that you wish would have remained?
AS: As far as cutting-room-floor material, here’s a spread that didn’t make it. But, should Robot and Robot one day go trick-or-treating…
Well, folks, you can one-up your friends by not only winning a SIGNED COPY of ROBOT ZOMBIE FRANKENSTEIN (which is a *perfect* Halloween read), but by also winning cool robot chest iron-ons! Impress your friends, neighbors, and local Kindergarten classes!
Just leave a comment to be entered. A winner will be randomly selected one week from today!
Annette Simon says that when she was in kindergarten, she was named Best Artist in her class. When she was in the third grade, she won her school’s Fire Prevention Week poster contest. After she graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, Annette earned awards as an advertising creative director. Now, she writes and draws for young readers. Simon says she could not feel more honored. Learn more about her books at AnnetteSimon.net.
47 comments
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September 19, 2012 at 12:23 pm
mandee wyrick
What a CUTE book! I try to collect Halloween-ish things for the kids because it’s my favorite day of the year. This would be PERFECT! Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
September 19, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Sallianne
Awesome book. Loving how fresh it is. Very cool.
September 19, 2012 at 12:24 pm
compelledbywords
What a CUTE book! I try to collect any and everything Halloween for the kids because it’s my favorite day of the year. This would be perfect! Thanks for the giveaway! 😀
September 19, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Maria Gianferrari
This book looks hilarious! Thanks for the chance at winning, Tara!
September 19, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Peter Salomon
LOVE the sound of this. Especially love the fact that a few hours before my signing at Flyleaf on Saturday, THIS book about Frankenstein will be up, with Annette Simon doing a signing at the same place!! Really looking forward to this one!
September 20, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Annette
Peter, Tara told me you’ll also be at Flyleaf. Looking forward to meeting you and your five-year-old!
September 19, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Valarie
I can’t wait to check this one out. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
September 19, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Deborah Amadei
Robot Zombie- that sounds way cool! Please enter me in the drawing.
Thanks.
September 19, 2012 at 1:00 pm
JoAn Watson Martin
What gives with all these characters? Kids themselves are the best of characters and I would love to read a book about a real couple of kids who were expert one-up-oneship, very creative liars! Remember, first liar never has a chance.
JoAn W. Martin
September 19, 2012 at 1:01 pm
carterhiggins
WANT. I saw this at ALA and instantly thought I have to have this on my blog for shape.
September 19, 2012 at 1:06 pm
LeslieG
Love the concept, love the artwork, love the interview. Thank you both!
September 19, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Melissa K.
Whee! How fantastic is this book going to be??? Don’t answer that – I’m pretty sure my five-year-old is going to be telling me very soon! It looks wonderful – thanks for bringing it to the top of the to-Read list!
September 19, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Penny Klostermann
I would love to win this book! It looks fabulous!
Thanks!
September 19, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Brianna Soloski
This looks adorable. I’m adding this one to my wish list and throwing my name in the hat for the giveaway. I love children’s books and this seems like a fresh concept.
September 19, 2012 at 1:33 pm
MaryZ
I went to Annette’s site and I can’t believe she uses Quark to make her illustrations. I use Quark every day…this may lead to something.
September 20, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Annette
Mary, affirmative! Maybe we can start up a Quark club…. (I read somewhere that Dave Eggers also writes in Quark.)
September 19, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Christie Wright Wild
Cute! What fresh imagination you have. Thanks for the giveaway. LOVE the idea of having IRON-ONs!!!
September 19, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Louann Brown
We just ordered Robot Zombie Frankenstein for story time at the library! Such a cute title. I know the kiddos will love it.
September 19, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Tracy
Wow. What a great story idea. I love the combining of characters and Tara, your translation skills are spot on! Great to *meet* Annette.
September 19, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Carla
Wow! This looks like so much fun! I can’t wait to share it with my kids!
September 19, 2012 at 2:18 pm
janelle
Awesome!!
September 19, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Lori Alexander
My son will love this! Thanks for the post.
September 19, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Janet Smart
Great interview. I always like reading about authors and how they came up with ideas for their books. Thanks for the give a way.
September 19, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Kristi Valiant
We’re quite partial to robots around here. What a fun combination idea for a picture book.
September 19, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Haley Kate Goble
I’m terrified of zombies but strangely drawn to them as well!!
September 19, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Cynthia Huang
My 5 year old son will love it. 🙂
September 19, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Nancy Furst
Love the idea of rolling three kid’s favorite characters into one. What’s up next?
September 19, 2012 at 5:54 pm
thiskidreviewsbooks
Cute! I want this! 🙂 Put me in! Great interview!
September 19, 2012 at 6:46 pm
kidlitdish
Showed this to my zombie-fearing, robot-loving, Frankenstein-clueless 8-year-old earlier and he is begging for it!! So… if I don’t win, we’re still buying it (but don’t let that influence your pick!) 😉
September 19, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Kirsten Larson
Oh my gosh, what a brilliant book. I’m not sure it could get any better unless you threw in an astronaut. Tara, thanks for introducing us to this brilliant book.
September 19, 2012 at 7:52 pm
tinamcho
Great mixture of hooks and premise! Thanks, Annette & Tara for sharing!
September 19, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Penny Volin
I really enjoyed the interview and would love to win a copy of this book.
Penny V
September 19, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Jan O'Neil
Love it! I would never have thought of it myself, but now you have me thinking of other things I would never have thought to put together. Can’t wait to read RZF to my first graders!
September 19, 2012 at 9:48 pm
SevenAcreSky
Love this cute book! Can’t wait to win/buy it! The one-up battle is so real among and between kids (especially boys) that this will be an instant connection for kids. And the trailer is cute, especially the tick-tock-spooky-clock sounds! You can virtually hear the gears in these guys heads whirling. – Damon Dean
September 19, 2012 at 10:10 pm
ThePeterA
Those are very Quarky robots…
September 19, 2012 at 11:44 pm
katiemillsgiorgio
Love the combination and can’t wait to read the book!
September 20, 2012 at 5:13 am
Stacey H. (@libraryjo92)
I just LOVE this book! It reminds me of many of my students. When I showed the book trailer for this book, my students were squeling with excitement!
September 20, 2012 at 7:26 am
Cindy Johnson
Thanks to both of you for the great interview! I can hardly wait to read robot zombie Frankenstein!
September 20, 2012 at 8:38 am
heylookawriterfellow
This book looks awesome. If I don’t win it, I’m gonna buy it.
September 20, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Annette
To Tara and you kind folks from Robot, Robot and me:
Thank you!
Thank you THANK you!
Thank you THANK you THANK YOU!!! (I win. heh heh)
September 20, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Lori Mozdzierz
The book sounds great, Annette! Love the brillant colors you use for Robot and Robot!!
Tara, drop my name in the hat for this outstanding prize . . .please :~>
There, okay, I said, “please.” So, do you want my snail nail address now 😀
LOL!!!
September 20, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Donna Earnhardt
OOOOH ! so adorbes! Mykids would love it… and so would I! 🙂
September 21, 2012 at 8:32 am
tammi sauer
Count me in!
Do I love this book? Affirmative.
September 24, 2012 at 10:29 am
aneducationinbooks
I’m not sure if “sweet bippy” means what I think it means.
September 25, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
Love to read about clever new picture books. Thanks for sharing, Tara, and I know Annette will be coming out with lots more books for us to enjoy now that her son will be going off to college. This is a great time to blossom as a writer!
September 25, 2012 at 8:23 pm
colleen kosinski
Great idea for a new robot book!
March 27, 2014 at 7:51 pm
Christopher
Many cats prefer horizontal surface to scratch on rather than vertical.
I have a cat tree available in every room of my home.
This is almost feline abuse in the eyes of your precious
princess or your precious prince.