Read About Robots!

READ ABOUT ROBOTS: Hey Greg! Thanks for stopping in. Greg Turner-Rahman: Hello!

The First Robot President is a really fun fictional biography that perfectly mimics the look and feel of textbook series on historical figures you’d find in any grade school or middle school library. What was your inspiration for creating this—for lack of a better term—parody textbook? GTR: The story is that this is a textbook sent back in time from the 22nd Century and describes not only the life of our first Robot President but also what is happening in the future. When I got to thinking about alternative formats I loved the notion that the book could be layered, have multiple meanings presented in both the story and the format. I think it is funny that: a.) we might still be using textbooks in the future (albeit textbooks on holographic storage flakes) b.) that the physical version is designed for 21st Century audiences. The mid-20th century aesthetic is an attempt by the bookbots in the future to produce something desirable for us in our time. They were a little off in their chrono-formatting :-\

Can you describe your process for creating The First Robot President, and also some of the steps you took to self-publish the book in multiple formats? GTR: It’s been so much fun creating this book. I started like most with my manuscript then storyboards and spreads. I was preparing a dummy when I realized that I would be unable to go the traditional publishing route before the 2016 presidential election. I decided to self-publish and felt that I would have a bit more freedom. I went with the textbook format then devoured my kids’ textbooks (education be damned!) and played around with the call out elements such as the definitions (there are definitions throughout the book). I found this a sneaky/fun way to subtly present the future. In terms of producing the book, I played with it in InDesign and it is a fairly easy process to export from InDesign to an iBooks (ePub) format. I tried a similar export from InDesign to Kindle format but there were many problems. I ended up redoing the entire book with revised graphics for the Kindle version and using the (free!) downloadable tools like Kindle Kid’s Book Creator (KBC). Using PDFs from InDesign, redesigned graphics, and Kindle KBC, I was able to construct a fixed format design and all was good with the world. This took me a while to figure out. The print format was super duper easy. Just a matter of an export of the main book text and formatting of a cover for CreateSpace, which I used for the print version.

So, how was it working with Editbot206e4? GTR: The big secret is Editbot206e4 actually wrote the whole book in something like 6 nanoseconds. One of the more crazy easter eggs is that the introductory statements from the editors contain messages. You can find it easily in my introduction. The Editbot statement takes a bit more effort. You can use document capture/optical character reader software and get the binary code then copy and paste that code into a binary-to-ascii translator (there are quite a few online). It’ll translate Editbot’s message for you. Editbot’s message is a bit condescending but there is still some love for humans there.

Were there any other humans or robots helping out behind the scenes? GTR: As with any book there have been a number of people who have provided great suggestions and support. Delphine Keim is a graphic designer colleague of mine at the University of Idaho who really pushed me to study textbooks and the details of interesting ephemera. My friend Noah Kroese, who is a fantastic writer/illustrator, and a critique group from my local chapter of SCBWI read the various drafts, feigned laughter, and patted me on the back while whispering: “It’s...it’s, uh, good. Do you need a ride home?”

What surprised you most during the creation or publication of the book? GTR: It takes a little time and techno-know-how but it is very easy to produce your own book. I was also surprised how that meant that people could put in ‘orders’ for formats. I wasn’t planning on a physical version (I am glad I did!) but was asked by a number of people who preferred actual books over ebooks. But others have asked for Robot President bumper stickers and stickers. Both of which I’ve produced and are available. I am sure if someone asked for a 747 jet painted with Robot President I’d study up on how to do it. Although I am pretty sure it’ll be a bit cost-prohibitive.

There’s some fun little easter eggs in the text. Even the fine print on the copyright page is humorously unconventional. In a standard textbook, I might only scan sidebar headings or ignore the foreword and fine print altogether. But in The First Robot President, the reader is rewarded by paying attention. Maybe it was those section breaks titled “PAY ATTENTION!!” that clued me in. GTR: Like life there is a lot of interesting stuff in the details. You just have to pay attention. Again, the format lends itself to really fun possibilities. Hopefully, you get a sense of the robot-human dynamic in the call outs. Even the fact that anytime there is a robot mentioned - even if it is a can opener that was accidentally elected - it is presented as a hero. Humans are almost irrelevant except for the few moments when they have to explain things to the robots.

As a professor of art and design at the University of Idaho, do you have any advice for authors and illustrators who might be interested in illustration and/or self-publishing? GTR: Amuse yourself. If you start a project and it seems arduous then maybe it is not the right project. I have had so much fun with this and I keep thinking of things to add or augment the story. You can find some of that on the roboprez tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook feeds. Other little snippets such as a backstory video of how we get chronotransmissions from the future or how someone accidentally unplugged the Supreme Court (in the future there’ll be an artificially intelligent Supreme Court stored on a flash drive). I continue to play with it for my own amusement. You can join in if you want but it doesn’t matter. I am playing with it because it’s fun for me.

Any plans for more books like The First Robot President? GTR: The First Robot President is part of a series of Robot History for Humans books which could lend itself to many fun possibilities. I am thinking about a book about Robot subcultures in 22nd Century. I love the idea of Emo and Jock robots. High school or middle school cliques and nonsense. Could be supremely silly.

It would seem that Chuck10.1 was—er, will be only a one-term president. During this extraordinary election season, what do you think is the most important lesson we can learn from Chuck10.1’s tumultuous time in office? GTR: Foibles are not just a human problem. By the way, Foibles is also the name of a Robot Music (Romu) band.

Early sketches for The First Robot President.

Final question: Do you have a favorite robot from your childhood? GTR: I think I was scared of robots as a kid. But I did have a soft spot for C3PO, although as an adult I think I’d probably remove his batteries so I wouldn’t have to listen to him prattle on.

I think there’s a button on the back of his neck for that sort of thing. Thanks, Greg! GTR: Thank you! Long live the robots!

Greg Turner-Rahman is a professor at the University of Idaho who teaches unsuspecting students history, how to make art on a computer, and how to think and communicate visually. Visit him online at www.metasurface.net.

You can find digital versions of The First Robot President on iTunes  and Amazon. Hard copies are also available through Amazon.

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WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? On October 11, 2016, we hope you’ll join us for the very first READ ABOUT ROBOTS DAY. Schools, libraries, book stores, and families are all encouraged to participate. We’re just reading robot books! That’s it. You can read board books, picture books, chapter books, comic books, graphic novels, whatever you like. Read one or read ten, it’s all good!

BUT... WHY? Because robots are cool! And robot books are fun to read! And anything that gets kids excited about reading and robots is awesome. We hope that READ ABOUT ROBOTS DAY will be fun while promoting literacy and creativity. And, if it helps support authors, illustrators and local bookstores by purchasing and sharing their books with others, so much the better!

HOW COME OCTOBER 11th? Okay, so October 11 can also be read as 10/11. And Binary, which is a computer language, only uses codes in two-digit combinations of zeroes and ones. Super clever, huh?

For future READ ABOUT ROBOTS posts, articles, interviews, and event updates, be sure to LIKE us on Facebook. Thanks!

Suggestions for a successful READ ABOUT ROBOTS DAY event:

BOOK STORES AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES  Add READ ABOUT ROBOTS DAY to your events calendar and have a local author or storyteller host a robot-themed story time. Set up a display of robot books near the front counter. Perhaps include toy and activity product tie-ins. Go nuts and use your creativity!

SCHOOLS Teachers and school librarians can help spread the word and get your students excited about READ ABOUT ROBOTS DAY. Consider bringing in a local author or illustrator for a visit to read robot books. You can also check out our EVENT RESOURCES page for posters and curriculum guides. What about a school-wide Draw Your Robot contest? Or coordinate with a local Lego Mindstorms group!

FAMILIES You can have a great celebration at home with your own robot books! Check out our ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS page for fun robot crafts and activity ideas. If you need to build up your collection of robot books, you’ve come to the right place! Peruse our cover gallery, then order your favorites online or through your local bookseller.

AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS Do you have a robot book of your own? Join the party! We hope you’ll reach out to your local bookstores, schools, or libraries and schedule a READ ABOUT ROBOTS DAY event for yourself on October 11th. Let’s collectively support each other’s work and turn this special day into a big-time celebration around the world! Tweet about it! Blog about it! Facebook about it, whatever! Be sure to visit the CONTACT page and let us know if you’re planning to participate. Go robot books!

READ ABOUT ROBOTS: Hey Miranda and Shane! Thanks for dropping in! MIRANDA PAUL: You’re welcome! The drop didn’t even hurt. Landed on my feet. SHANE McG: Thanks for having us!

Mashing up trains and robots is so brilliant! Miranda, can you start off by giving the backstory of Trainbots before the manuscript reached Shane’s hands? MP: Brilliant, eh? Those Trainbots sure are brilliant in their engineering plan to outsmart the Badbots. But my original train of thought wasn’t so brilliant, it turns out. Trainbots came about after several manuscript reboots. Writing is like that—especially for short picture books—each manuscript is like a journey. Sometimes you have to switch tracks half way down the line. Originally, I had a quiet and much longer story about a mouse and a train. My agent loved it, and shopped it around, but it wasn’t selling. I was ready to give up when she happened to meet with an editor who was looking for a train manuscript. The editor liked it, but wanted something with more action. They both asked if I might be willing to rethink the story. I didn’t mind trying. I reprogrammed it, but didn’t like the second story I came up with — and my agent agreed. So I did what any children’s writer might do. I asked a kid for help! My son was about four or five at the time, and he loves both trains and robots. Trainbots began to invent itself in my head, then on paper. It was very different from the original story I’d written, but I liked where this new story was going. Thankfully, so did my son and everyone else. As they say, the third time’s the charm. Whew! A winding journey for such a short book. But that’s usually how it is. Picture books look easy and quick when you read them, but writing them well usually involves very little that’s easy.

AND, it rhymes, which is especially difficult to pull off. Your meter and rhyme scheme really add to the fun of the book. Was there much editing from your first draft? MP: I’m so glad you noticed the meter. I went for a chugging train rhythm and robot-like sentence fragments. My teachers and professors always drilled in me how “Form and Function” must work together. They were talking about Shakespeare and classic works of literature and poetry, but the same principle applies for kids’ books. Why not? Literary devices are literary devices no matter who’s reading. In fact, a couple of weeks ago I read it aloud to a classroom and they bounced in their seats whispering “Chugga, chugga” the entire time! It was so much fun. I love read-alouds. <Spoiler alert> The kids even whooped and applauded when the hero-bots prevailed! As for the editing, rhyme is always hard. Even for those who have a natural affinity for rhyme or who play music. The thing is, you’ve got to write it so well that someone other than you can be able to pick it up and do that magic chugga-chugga thing with ease. Since I wrote three stories to get to Trainbots, you’d better believe that I did a lot of head-banging - times three!

Shane, after receiving the manuscript, how did you go about developing the look of the trainbots and the badbots? SM: Miranda’s story was so much fun and had a fantastic rhythm, much like a steam train, so it was pretty obvious to me how the train would look. I began some pencil sketches of the robots based on the tin toy collection I have sitting around the studio. They were looking a little stiff and static at the beginning so I gave them slightly more human qualities in the eyes and mouths to match Miranda’s beautiful writing and so that kids would relate to them. At first I thought the Badbots should be black but because they needed to merge into the background when they were hiding and sneaking I opted for a grey metallic look. I coloured them up digitally and the publisher asked if I could loosen up the style and give them a more 3 dimensional look for the finals, which was the right call.

(Early robot sketches by Shane McG for Trainbots.)

There’s a real timeless quality to the look of Trainbots. It feels both classic and new at the same time. Did that just come naturally, or was there a specific style you were intentionally trying to achieve? SM: It’s nice when people pick up on that, as it’s something I always aim for. I hope that parents will relate to my books as much as kids. I visualize each book like a little movie and each spread is like a scene from the movie. That helps to give them a timeless look. But to be honest the deadline for this book was super duper fast so I didn’t have a lot of time to fuss over things. It all came quite naturally.

Can you each tell us how you got into creating children’s books? MP: I’d been writing stories and poems my whole life - because it’s in me, you know? I took my first class on writing for children in 2003 and got a degree in English in 2004. Despite all of that I never realized this could be a career—or, at least, one that I could/should pursue. For awhile, I nearly quit all forms of writing, even journaling. I had a few “real” jobs and that was fun for awhile, but something was missing. In 2009 I made a New Year’s Resolution to pick up my pen again (while still working other jobs, including teaching). I had this incredible story that had weaved its way into my life and I needed to tell it to the world. That story inspired my first published piece, an essay about Isatou Ceesay, which won third place in a writing contest. Later, the same subject matter fueled my first published picture book, One Plastic Bag. (That’s also a really short version of events, by the way.)

(Sketch and final art comparison by Shane McG for Trainbots.)

SM: I loved picture books as a kid and would spend hours studying the illustrations and imagining the worlds printed on the page. When I started my illustration career I worked mainly for editorial clients. I had a crack at writing and illustrating a couple of picture books in the 90’s which were pretty dreadful. But after reading mountains of story books to our daughter I figured I’d give it another go. It helped that the first book was about Evie because it wrote and illustrated itself. I was living in London at the time and was really lucky to find a very talented designer at Templar who took the book on.

Miranda, you’ve dedicated Trainbots to your agent, Karen Grencik. Other than selling the manuscript, did she have an editorial hand in the process? MP: My agent encouraged me on my first train story, and was honest in telling me when the second one wasn’t great. Honesty is a very important quality in an agent, even if the truth is difficult. Karen also recognized the potential of the third story, Trainbots. Without her having her ear to the ground about an editor who was seeking a manuscript like mine, I would never have had the opportunity. I’m grateful to my editor at little bee books as well, who didn’t feel the need to cut or change the extensive and sophisticated vocabulary. Kids love learning new words - I don’t believe in writing “down” to children. And I’m proud to say that little bee has acquired two more books from me since Trainbots. Two more FUN books, coming in 2017!

Shane, are there any logistical challenges as an illustrator living in Australia that our readers might not realize? What are the children’s lit and illustration scenes like over there? SM: Living and working in Australia is a lot easier these days. Many years ago I made the transition from traditional media to working digitally partly so I could transfer my work anywhere in the world at the click of a button. The illustration and lit scene is thriving here but quite a bit smaller than NY or London obviously. Publishers here are very passionate and dedicated. A lot of my work actually comes from overseas clients though. With Skype and email distance is not such an issue. The time difference just means when I receive a deadline I’m a day ahead so it feels like I have an extra day to work on it. It’d be nice to be able to pop over to the international book fairs though.

So, Miranda, you’re planning a Read About Robots Day event! That’s awesome! Can you give us some details? MP: For Read About Robots Day on October 11, I’m heading to my city’s main library and school kids will walk or be bussed in for a high-energy presentation. I’m going to reveal a few ways that authors are like inventors, and then in the evening families can come back to do a little inventing of their own. We’re still finalizing some of the details, and all events are posted on my website. Here’s the link to this particular event: http://mirandapaul.com/tag/read-about-robots/

(Sketch and final art comparison by Shane McG for Trainbots.)

Shane, any plans to come to the states in the near future? SM: New York is my all time favourite city and San Fran is beautiful. I’d love to come back soon. Actually I’d love to hire a 66 convertible Mustang and spend 3 months driving from the East to the West Coast. I can always dream.

Final question: Do you have a favorite robot from the movies, TV, literature, or pop culture? MP: Johnny 5 is alive! I also had a C-3PO and an Alphie toy. Not to mention a Speak and Spell - and I still attribute my knack for spelling and words to that little device. The more I think about it, my childhood was full of robots! It’s fun to think that the things I’m creating now are forming part of a new generation’s childhood experiences.

SM: I’m very old school so Robbie from Forbidden Planet is the most iconic robot for me and has a fantastic look. When I was a kid I used to love Lost in Space. So it’s a toss up between Robot and Robbie. They were both designed by the same guy and Robbie even made a few appearances on the show.  

Awesome. Thanks to you both, and good luck with the book launch! MP: Thanks for creating a whole day dedicated to robots + books! I’m thrilled for Trainbots to chug into bookstores.

SM: Thanks Tim.

Miranda Paul is an award-winning children's author who has worked as a freelance writer, teacher, volunteer zookeeper, and more. She began writing in elementary school, thanks to her wonderful teachers. She also enjoys science, trivia, and board games. Most of Miranda's heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things—including her own kidbots who invent all kinds of gadgets with their super-handy dad. When she's not traveling, you can find Miranda chugging around in Green Bay, Wisconsin, or online at mirandapaul.com.

Shane McG is an illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia. He has an extensive global client base in the editorial, design and advertising fields. He also loves writing and illustrating picture books which are published traditionally and as e-books. He is always looking to work on new and interesting commissions, no matter how big or small. Learn more about Shane at shanemcgworld.com.

You can find TRAINBOTS online and wherever books are sold.

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In my junior high school days, I was an avid Marvel comics reader. Spider-man, X-Men, Fantastic Four and all the rest. But there was one character, a noble cyborg from outer space named ROM, who stole my heart just as his 75-issue series came to a close in 1986.

The first issue of ROM appeared in 1979, written by Bill Mantlo and illustrated by Sal Buscema. But ROM actually got his start as a robot toy—one of the first electronic action figures released by Parker Brothers. The product was poorly reviewed, but something about ROM inspired Marvel to buy the story rights.

And so began the adventures of ROM, a human from planet Galador who volunteers to be temporarily converted into an armored cyborg to defend his world from an evil alien race of Dire Wraiths. Giving up his humanity, ROM swears to remain a Spaceknight until all the Wraiths are destroyed. Easier said than done. On the plus side, ROM eventually made his way to Earth and got to hang with heroes like Dr. Strange, the X-Men, and the Avengers.  

Now, thirty years later, ROM HAS RETURNED! Comics publisher IDW has revived our rusty robot—er, cyborg, and his story begins anew in a free issue being offered during Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 7, 2016.

Will ROM join the ranks of today’s ultra-hyped heroes on the big screen? Hmm… well, Hasbro acquired the toy rights and there’s talk of a film universe that could include ROM, G.I. Joe, and the Micronauts. There are also rumors that some Spaceknights may appear in the next Guardians of the Galaxy movie since Marvel has access to the Spaceknights name.

Kathy Ciceri’s Making Simple Robots: Exploring Cutting-Edge Robotics with Everyday Stuff was published by Maker Media, Inc. in 2015. GeekDad.com called it a grand slam.

READ ABOUT ROBOTS: Welcome Kathy! Thanks for dropping in! KATHY CECERI: Thanks for having me! I was very excited to discover Read About Robots Day and your marvelous website!

So, all of your books involve building and creativity in one way or another. Were you always interested in crafts and technology? KC: I've always liked learning new crafts, and especially finding new ways to use recycled materials. And as a sci-fi fan growing up I always liked reading about robots and futuristic technology. But the idea to combine the two came when Nomad Press asked me to write Robotics: Discover the Science and Technology of the Future. They wanted me to come up with with 20 projects that would teach kids about robotics, but I could only use things they might already have around the house -- no kits, and no computers! It was an interesting challenge and I was very pleased with the results.

Your first book, Around The World Crafts: Great Activities For Kids Who Like History, Math, Art, Science And More!, came out in 2008. Can you share how you became a published author? KC: That book was a collection of projects that I first wrote about for Home Education Magazine for homeschooling families. I took my original columns and expanded them, including little side projects that I had tested out with my own kids and in my enrichment classes. Since that book was self-published, I had to design all the artwork and the pages. It was a lot of fun to put together.

After that, a friend who wrote educational books suggested I contact some publishers and ask for assignments. I ended up writing three books for Nomad Press related to history and geography -- Discover the Desert, World Myths and Legends, and The Silk Road (which I also illustrated) -- before starting to focus more on technology topics. Thanks to that background, I always try to include something about the history of technology, the role it plays in society, and the people behind the machines!

Both Making Simple Robots and Robotics are so well organized and packed with information, craft ideas, and detailed instructions. Oh, and they’re also really fun! From a writing standpoint alone, they must have taken a serious amount of research and planning. What’s your process for developing books like these? KC: I'm glad you enjoyed them! Whenever I begin to write about a new topic, I start off by learning enough about it to decide what's important and what kids would find interesting. I also look for experts who are willing to share their knowledge and opinions. For instance, for Robotics, I talked to Daniel Wilson, who has a Ph.D. in robotics and has written several fiction and nonfiction books for kids and adults about new robotics research.

The hardest part sometimes is keeping up with new developments, so I'm always scanning the news. My book Paper Inventions has two projects based on self-folding paper robots from Harvard. I got permission to use a photo of the latest model that I spotted online right before the book went to press.

Once I decide what my chapters will be about, I make up a list of ideas for projects that look like they'd be easy to do at home. A lot of times my experiments don't work as well as I'd like, and my list gets pared down fast. That's the life of an inventor! Finally, when I have time, I try to get kids I know to test out my projects. For my book Video Games: Design and Code Your Own Adventure, I had a team of QA (Quality Assurance) helpers who gave me a some good feedback on programming the games in the book, just like at real video game companies.

You have a website called CraftsForLearning.com, which features STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) projects, and you also offer in-person programs in and around New York state. It must be fun to actually see kids putting your crafts into action. KC: I love doing programs with kids because they always come up with new ways to do things that I would never think of! I also enjoy showing off my projects at Maker Faires around the country, and hearing about how people adapt them at home or in their classroom. It gives me new ideas and helps me improve the projects I design for future books.

Do you have a favorite robot craft project from one of your books? KC: For Making Simple Robots I visited the laboratory of a professor who was working on steering small bouncy robots using only vibrating motors -- then designed my own version using drinking straws and rubber bands. When I got it to work, I sent him a video and he told me I did in one afternoon what it took his students two summers to figure out. But my favorite is probably the Solar Wobblebot from Robotics, because it's made from all recycled parts and it works great. (I posted the directions for making it on Instructables: http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-WobbleBot/.)

What does the future hold for crafts and making things at home? Will 3D printers become household items as common as staplers and glue guns? KC: I think the Maker Movement is really taking off, and crafts and hands-on projects are enjoying new popularity. At my local makerspace, people are just as interested in learning to sew as they are in learning to use the laser cutters. And lots of schools and libraries are adding their own makerspaces as well. The day of 3D printers in every home may be coming very soon. I'm keeping my eye on Mattel's new Thingmaker (http://www.thingmaker.com/printer/), which is scheduled to be released in November 2016, if anyone's wondering what to get me for the holidays...

Whoa, that’s really cool. Your next book coming up in 2016 is Edible Inventions: Cooking Hacks and Yummy Recipes You Can Build, Mix, Bake, and Grow. Can you give us a little taste of what’s in the book? KC: Well, right now I'm working on projects involving kitchen chemistry. I just tested one with a group of friends that used dry ice to make orange creamsicles. And the inventor of the PancakeBot (http://www.pancakebot.com/), which lets you create pancakes in all kinds of complicated designs, is designing a simple version for the book that kids can build themselves using LEGO bricks. I can't wait to try that one out!

A Lego pancake making robot? Yes, please. Okay, final question: Do you have a favorite robot from the movies, TV, or pop culture? KC: Hmm, when I was a kid, I was a fan of the Robot on Lost in Space ("Danger, Will Robinson!"). But as a Trekkie from way back, I have a special fondness for Data.

Awesome. Thanks, Kathy! Live long and prosper. KC: Thank you, it was fun!

Kathy Ceceri is an award-winning author, crafts designer, and teaching artist with a focus on science, technology, history, and art. Her articles and columns have appeared in MAKE, Wired, FamilyFun, Home Education Magazine, Sesame Street Parents and Child. Online, she served as About.com's Homeschooling Expert and was a founding editor of the popular GeekMom blog and a top writer for Wired.com's GeekDad blog. Learn more at craftsforlearning.com.

Everyone knows the story of Dorothy and Toto’s visit to Oz, right? L. Frank Baum’s uber-classic novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1900, followed by a stage musical adaptation in 1902. Baum went on to write thirteen more Oz books over the course of twenty years, and the popular movie version of The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland came out in 1939.

The third Oz book, Ozma of Oz, published in 1907, featured a mechanical man named Tik-Tok who joins Dorothy on a new adventure to rescue a royal family from the Nome King in the land of Ev. The word “robot” would not be coined until the 1920’s, but Tik-Tok was a robot through and through. With stilted speech, a comical lack of emotion, and copper clockwork body, Tik-Tok became a recurring character in the Oz series. In 1913, Ozma of Oz was loosely adapted for the stage and renamed The Tik-Tok Man of Oz. The next year, the musical was adapted into the eighth Oz novel, Tik-Tok of Oz.

With his three separate winding keys for Thinking, Talking, and Moving, Tik-Tok paved the way for every metal man, woman and child to follow in his footsteps. Yes, Tik-Tok deserves our utmost respect and has earned his spot at the top of the literary robots hall of fame.

James Burks’ BEEP AND BAH came out in 2012 from Carolrhoda Books, and Publisher’s Weekly called it a “sweetly silly quest—it’s manic, irreverent, and self-referential through and through.”

READ ABOUT ROBOTS: Hey James! Thanks for dropping in! JAMES BURKS: I’m honored to be here. Thanks!

Okay first off, Beep and Bah—a robot and a goat. They’re such an unlikely pair, but it totally works. Was it always going to be a goat and a robot? How did you decide on these two as your heroes for a story about a lost sock? JB: It was always a goat and a robot from the very beginning. I came up with the idea for Beep and Bah while sitting at my exhibit table during the San Diego Comic Con back in probably 2008 or 2009. I had just met with a publisher about publishing my first book Gabby and Gator and they had asked me to rewrite it so that it was geared more towards 5 year olds. I wasn’t keen on that idea so instead I went back to my table and created Beep and Bah.  

And it became a bit of a picture book / graphic novel hybrid. JB: Yes. I wanted Beep and Bah to be a 32 page graphic novel of sorts for little kids to read with their parents. I imagined that the parents could read Beep’s dialogue and the kids could say all the animal’s sounds.

Well, it’s fitting that Beep and Bah originated at a comics convention! Can you talk about how you became a published children’s book author/illustrator? JB: My road to children’s publishing actually began at the San Diego Comic con as well. I had self published a small 8x8, 48 page, black and white version of Gabby and Gator with a single sketch on each page with very little dialogue. I was selling them for $10. I sold one to an associate of a literary agent. The lit agent (Kelly Sonnack) read it and loved it. She contacted me after the convention and offered to help me turn Gabby and Gator into a picture book or a graphic novel. I decided to go with the graphic novel format and we worked together for a few months taking that initial 48 page story and expanding it into a more complete story. Once we had something that worked Kelly offered to be my agent. I initially wasn’t sure that I wanted or needed an agent but decided to give it a try and I’m SO glad that I did. It was probably one of the best decisions of my life. Kelly and I have been working together ever since.

Beep’s design is great. How did you land on his particular look? JB: When I design my characters I like to use simple basic shapes. This makes it easy to move them around and draw them from pretty much any angle. Beep is pretty much a letter U with a cap on top.

Without spoiling anything, could you touch on how you devised the ending for Beep and Bah? JB: I tend to like the idea of telling a story and not fulfilling the traditional expected ending. Especially after sending the characters on such a long journey. You expect them to succeed in their quest. I think what I like most about the ending to Beep and Bah is that it hits on the idea that it’s not the destination but the journey that’s important. That’s where the memories are made. Too often we set our sights on a goal and forget to enjoy the ride.

So true. Beep and Bah’s journey takes them all over the place and they meet a crazy cast of supporting characters. There must be other animals that got left on the cutting room floor… JB: I had to go back and look through the sketchbook where I put my initial sketches and ideas for Beep and Bah. It looks like there were a few animals that didn’t make it into the story. A walrus, a toucan, and a moose. They were probably cut because they didn’t make a distinct animal sound that would be easy for kids to repeat. I also found a sketch of them riding on a bus. Apparently I was considering the idea that they would travel by a bus, a train, and a plane.

Among your credits in film and TV animation, you worked on the 1999 robot movie, The Iron Giant. What was that like? JB: Working on The Iron Giant was incredible. I was a Key Assistant Animator on Hogarth Hughes and Kent Mansley. I took the animator’s rough drawings and cleaned up the key frames making sure they were on model and that the proportions stayed consistent for the scenes I was given. Then I supervised a few other artists who filled in all the inbetween drawings.

Did that experience influence your work in children’s books? My time in animation has definitely influenced the work I do in children’s books. I picked up so many valuable drawing techniques and was able to learn from so many amazing artists. I learned all about pacing, clear staging, character design, acting, expressions…the list goes on and on. I wouldn’t be the artist and writer I am today if I hadn’t worked in animation.

Wow. Any chance we might see a new Beep and Bah adventure in the future? JB: I actually wrote a second Beep and Bah adventure but the publisher wasn’t interested in doing it. For now it sits on my hard drive with my other ideas. Maybe one day I’ll do something with it.

I hope you do! Final question. Who’s your favorite robot from the movies, TV, or pop culture? JB: Hmmm…as a kid I was into Star Wars. C3PO and R2D2 would probably be two of my favorites. I also liked watching the Buck Rogers TV show with Twiki!  

Awesome. Fun fact: Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny, voiced Twiki for the first season of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century back in 1979. Thanks, James! JB: Thanks so much for the invite. Beep! Boop! Beep!

James Burks started out working in the animation industry on various movies and television shows, including Space Jam, The Iron Giant, Wow Wow Wubbzy, Fan Boy and Chum Chum, and Bravest Warriors. His first graphic novel for kids, GABBY AND GATOR, was published by Yen Press in 2010 and is a Junior Library Guild selection. Other kid lit credits include BIRD & SQUIRREL, THE MONSTORE, and HAGGIS AND TANK UNLEASHED. James’ next book, PIGS AND A BLANKET, comes out April 5, 2016. Learn more at jamesburks.com.

Long before Bitty Bot, Robot Zot, and Tik-Tok, there was The Steam Man of the Prairies, a sci-fi dime novel by Edward S. Ellis, published in 1868. On a literary historical timeline, this was fifty years after Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and twenty-seven years before H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine. The Steam Man of the Prairies represents one of the earliest American science fiction novels, and was the first example in literature of a mechanical man.

During the Industrial Revolution (mid 1700s to mid 1800s), the steam engine became the dominant source of power in the world. The Steam Man of the Prairies starred Johnny Brainerd, a young inventor who builds a steam powered man to pull him around like a locomotive. Johnny heads out west to help some miners scare Indians away from a gold mine. (Okay, not the most PC story in the world. Times were different then.) By the end—SPOILER ALERT!—the Indians trap Johnny and his Steam Man with a wall of boulders. Johnny’s only choice is to ram the wall at full speed, causing the Steam Man’s boiler to explode, shattering him into thousands of pieces. Noooo! Steam Man! Whyyyy?!?!

Soon after, a competing dime novel publisher produced a knock-off called Steam Man of the Plains, which went on to have several sequels. In 2015, Dark Horse Comics published The Steam Man, a new comic series co-written by Joe R. Lansdale with illustrations by Piotr Kowalski. But little Johnny Brainerd’s Steam Man will always be the original steampunk robot.

Melissa Stewart’s non-fiction book, ROBOTS, came out in 2014 from National Geographic Kids. It’s a leveled reader, chock-full of fun facts, silly jokes, and colorful pictures of actual bots. Kids LOVE reading and learning about the real world, and we are so happy to have Melissa come and share some of the behind-the-scenes of this fascinating book.

READ ABOUT ROBOTS: Thanks for stopping by, Melissa! Melissa Stewart: Thanks for inviting me, Tim. I’m looking forward to chatting about robots.

So, you’ve written more than 150 non-fiction books for children? Kids are always asking me how many books I’ve written, so I always have to know the exact number. Right now it’s 186.

Nice! And most of them deal with nature… Yes, I’m a science writer, so my books are about plants and animals, weather and outer space, rocks and minerals and the human body, and yes, even robots.

How did you come to write a book about robots for National Geographic Kids? My National Geographic editor wanted to add a book about robots to the National Geographic Reader series and asked if I was interested. Of course, I said yes. I couldn’t wait to dig into the research.

Your first book Life Without Light was published in 1998. Back then, the internet was in its infancy. How has your research process changed over time? Does the internet play a part in your research today? That’s a great question. For most of my books, my primary sources are (1) books, magazine articles, and scientific journal articles, which I find through databases; (2) firsthand experiences and observations pulled from the nature journals I’ve been keeping since 1989; and (3) interviews with experts.

I use the internet to access databases and to find experts to interview. So for example, when I had specific questions about a particular robot, I used the internet to hunt down the scientists working on it and then make an initial contact by email. Contacting scientists was much harder and slower back when I wrote my first few books.

My son loved the image of the lawnmower bot (shown above). Then his jaw dropped at the sight of the world’s largest robot, built by Kogoro Kurata. Were you surprised by anything you learned while researching Robots? I was surprised and delighted by practically everything I learned. There is so much innovative work going on. I was especially intrigued by robots that mimic animal behaviors—walking like dogs, slithering like snakes, swimming like jellyfish. How cool is that?

Um, extremely cool. You have some great photography in Robots. Most images are credited to photo archives such as Getty and SuperStock. How did you go about selecting or acquiring the photos for the book? It takes a village to make a book, and I love working with the National Geographic team, including my editor, an art director, a graphic designer, a photo researcher, etc.

As I was researching, I made copies of photos I hoped could appear in the book. As I was writing, I created captions to accompany those images. When I submitted the manuscript, I included contact information for the researchers who were working on each robot. All that information was forwarded to the book’s photo researcher who did her best to find the photos and secure the rights. Didn’t she do an amazing job? The images in the book are fantastic!

Absolutely. The whole thing came together beautifully! So, as someone who has literally written the book on robots, where do you see robotics going in the future? It seems like people don’t respond well to robots that look “too human,” so I think we’ll see less work in that area and more work on specific-use robots for our homes, like the lawn mower and vacuum cleaner robots. Also, there will be innovations in robots for jobs that are dangerous, such as search and rescue or exploring volcanoes and violent weather.

Oh boy, I could talk about robots all day, but we’re out of time! Final question: Do you have a favorite robot from the book? The snakebot has to be my favorite. I just love how it moves.

Excellent choice. Hey readers, check out this YouTube video of a snakebot in action!

Thanks again, Melissa! Thank you, Tim.

Russ Manning (1929-1981), an American comic book artist, created Magnus Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. for Gold Key Comics. From 1963 to 1968, Manning wrote and illustrated 21 issues, pitting the super-strong human hero against rogue robots, aliens, and other villains. Like the character Tarzan, who was raised by apes, Magnus was raised by a robot named 1A. 

Manning also illustrated a Tarzan series for Gold Key, and created issues of the Star Wars newspaper strip from 1979-1980. Today, the Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award is presented annually during the prestigious Eisner Awards ceremony at Comic-Con International in San Diego. 

Over the years, Magnus Robot Fighter was rebooted by Valiant Comics and Dark Horse Comics, among others. A three-volume archive of Russ Manning’s original issues of Magnus Robot Fighter is currently available through Dark Horse Comics.

We are thrilled to kick off our series of robot book interviews with Sue Fliess, author of ROBOTS, ROBOTS EVERYWHERE!

ROBOTS, ROBOTS EVERYWHERE! came out in 2013 through Random House/Little Golden Books. Kirkus Reviews said: “Some of the most exciting illustrations you see this year might be in tiny, easy-to-overlook Little Golden Books. We saw Sue Fliess’ Robots, Robots Everywhere!, illustrated by the one and only Bob Staake--a book well-worth your time.”

READ ABOUT ROBOTS: Thanks for stopping by, Sue! Sue Fliess: Thanks for inviting me here, Tim!

Can you start by talking about what inspired you to write about robots? It’s funny. I had written a story about outer space when I was first starting out, (no editor should have ever seen this!), and then toyed with the idea of writing a robot story. But it wasn’t until an editor asked if I would be interested in writing a robot novelty book that I gave it a shot. Even though I had a trucks novelty book, I’d never written something with the intention of it being a novelty book. Which is likely why that editor rejected it. But my agent and I liked it enough that we sent it on to Little Golden Books, and fortunately, they picked it up!

So, you didn’t have Little Golden Books in mind when you were working on the manuscript? No, but after I’d written it, I attended the SCBWI Los Angeles conference and went to hear Diane Muldrow (Editorial Director, LGB) speak. Sadly, I had no idea Little Golden Books did anything but reprints of classic Little Goldens and Disney movie tie-ins. And I’d been in publishing for at least 5 years at this point. I texted my agent that day and said that I thought several of my manuscripts would be a great fit for Diane.

And it turns out you were right! How long was the period between when you started writing and when ROBOTS, ROBOTS EVERYWHERE! finally came out? I started writing it in early 2010. We sold it in 2012. Then I had to do a significant revision (remember that bit about writing it as a novelty book?). It then came out in 2013.  

Most robot books for young kids typically feature a central fictional robot character. But you took it another way… I thought it would be interesting to show a variety of robots, and therefore it didn’t occur to me to try to incorporate a main character. When Diane got the manuscript, she wanted me to make sure that every robot in the book was a real or at least prototype of a future robot. So I had to rewrite half the book! But it became so much better. As it turns out, it was my first official non-fiction book.

Why do you think robots are so popular? What is it about them that kids find so interesting? I think the idea of a machine that can be controlled by a human or one that has artificial intelligence enough to interact with at some human level is fascinating to both children and adults alike. I did a ton of robot research for this book. If I didn’t have a deadline, I may still be researching—that’s how intrigued I was!

We gotta talk about Bob Staake. The illustrations are amazing… What good luck for me! I remember when Diane said, “We found an illustrator. And he’s a quite famous one at that.” I was dying to know! And when she said it was Bob Staake, my first thought was The Donut Chef. But then I find out that not only did he have over 50 children’s books, he is The New Yorker’s golden boy cover artist and I see his art everywhere. Even in the airline magazines! I had the good fortune of meeting him when he was touring and he’s one cool customer.

Was his graphic style of robots what you had envisioned as you were writing the manuscript? Well, to be honest, I always hope the illustrator is going to do a way better job than what my little mind has come up with. In this case, and for all of my books, this held true. When you think robots, you might think retro or geometric, and Bob’s style was the perfect match for this. Which my editor knew, of course!

It must be fun to read ROBOTS, ROBOTS EVERYWHERE! to kids at libraries and classrooms. Have they surprised you with any observations? Oh yes! Well, kids always surprise me—usually with stuff I’d never even thought of. I read the book to a preschool once and after reading the page: Up in space, beneath the seas, robots make discoveries, the topic turned to questions like, “How come underwater robots don’t rust?” and that was followed by many stories of moms dropping their phones in toilets and sinks.

That’s awesome. Before we go, do you have a favorite robot from pop culture history? Two come to mind. Number 5 from Short Circuit (Ally Sheedy, Steve Gutenberg, Number 5 is alive! What can I say, I love the 80s!) and of course, WALL-E.

Nice choices. Thanks again, Sue! Thanks for having me!

Sue Fliess ("fleece") is the author of numerous children's books including Tons of Trucks, Books for Me! and I’m a Ballerina! Her background is in copywriting, PR, and marketing, and her articles have appeared in O the Oprah Magazine, Huffington Post, Writer's Digest, and more. Fliess has also written for The Walt Disney Company. Her picture books have received honors from the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators, have been used in school curriculums, museum educational programs, and have even been translated into French. She's a member of SCBWI, Children's Book Guild of DC, and does book signings, school visits, and speaking engagements. Sue lives with her family and a Lab named Charlie in Northern Virginia. Visit her at www.suefliess.com.

Here’s how it works:

1. Draw a super awesome robot with lots of detail. Bonus points for color! It can be an original design or a tribute to your favorite robot from a book, movie, or wherever. Just have fun! 2. Ask a parent nicely to scan or take a picture of your drawing with their mobile phone. 3. Have your parent email your photo file along with your FIRST NAME, LAST INITIAL, and your AGE to [email protected] with “Robot Drawing” in the subject line. 4. We’ll post your robot drawing on the READ ABOUT ROBOTS website for the world to see! 5. Tell your friends and relatives. Bask in your own awesomeness.

(Open to kids ages 0-18. Prize drawing date to be determined. Rules subject to change.)