Bob Books came about as a result of teacher Bobby Lynn Maslen’s careful attention to the specific needs of children learning to read for the very first time.
As a teacher at the Catlin Gabel School in Portland, Oregon, Bobby’s work with 3 to 5 year-olds involved constant invention in art, math games, physical growth activities and, of course, reading materials. When she didn’t find books that she felt were interesting enough for her young students, she created the Bob Books.
The first books were handmade, inspired by two small dolls—one circular and one triangular— she bought at a craft fair. She named the dolls Mat and Sam and spun stories about them, illustrated with line drawings that the children could copy and color. The stories were very personal, customized to each one of her students.
Soon it became too cumbersome to make books for each student, so Maslen standardized the set and persuaded her school to print 300 copies. “In the beginning I just went to the grocery store and bought baggies -- little sandwich baggies -- and that's how we packaged them," Maslen said. “The whole thing from beginning to end was a trial-and-error process."
Portland State University next published the books for several years, and word began to spread, leading to self publishing and a cottage industry. Bobby Maslen’s husband, John Maslen, a watercolor artist and former architect, drew new pictures. The couple's growing children helped collate and staple.
The Bob Books went on to become a Children's Book-of-the-Month-Club selection, and the series was adopted by home-schoolers and Montessori teachers. In 1993 USA Today ran a story about the Bob Books. The Maslens were inundated with phone calls.
``By that time we were going crazy," Bobby Maslen said. ``We knew the potential was much more than we could handle ourselves."
"Then she officially hired me to illustrate and help market and publish the books," says John, as demand increased.
In 1995, they partnered with Scholastic, Inc. to publish and distribute the books. They have maintained that relationship to this day.
John Maslen is an award winning watercolor painter and architect. He holds signature status in the National Watercolor Society and several other art organizations. He also received an American Institute of Architects Honor Award.
When articles recommending the Bob Books appeared in the Washington Post, USA Today, CNN, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Publisher’s Weekly, the Maslens turned to a major publisher of children’s books, Scholastic, Inc., for help. Happily, the Maslens and Scholastic together keep all five sets of Bob Books available to children throughout the world.
The Maslen Family
After meeting as students at Rhode Island School of Design, Bobby Lynn Hartness and John Maslen married in 1955, and had four children: Lynn, David, Sylvia and Paul. Today, Bob Books are still very much a family-run business with management being handed down to the eldest daughter.
Lynn Maslen Kertell
Managing Partner, Bob Books Publications, LLC
Managing Partner, Bob Books New Initiatives, LLC
Lynn has been involved with the Bob Books right from the beginning, starting with paste up and lettering of the first edition in the 1970’s. She later spent several years in other ventures. She returned to the family business as her own daughter was beginning to read. That was when she gained true appreciation for the simplicity, fun, humor and easy success of Bob Books. Her daughter now joins the millions of kids that happily exclaim, “I read the whole book!”® Lynn lives in Seattle with her daughter and husband. You may email Lynn directly at Lynn@BobBooks.com
