…here’s what’s happening on the dining room table.
Robbi is signing the 19 pre-ordered copies of St. Michaels, The Town that (Somehow) Fooled the British, which is the book we’ll be reading tomorrow morning at White Marsh Elementary school.
Because Robbi is a hard-working person who takes everything very seriously, she is not just singing and dedicating the books. She is also adding an original illustration to every single one of them. I was tempted to follow suit and write an original poem in every single one of them. But Robbi, who is as discerning and diplomatic as she is hard-working, gently suggested that it probably wasn’t necessary.
This is what each bright-eyed child will find when he turns to the title page.
Here’s the deal, Finn. Robbi is going to do her very best to get outrageously famous so that your mom’s $10 investment can one day pay for your college education. But you might want to keep your grades up in case it doesn’t work out.
On top of everything, Robbi is “singing” the book too!? Wow, talk about multi-talented. Will there be a video of the performance? :-)
Oh Clare –
Matthew is a notoriously bad speller. Though he is the Idiots’Books writer, I am the Idiots’Books proofreader. Which is to say, it’s no surprise that I’m going to be “singing” the book too, tomorrow. This is how we become cutting edge.
Clare: I used to like you. Until I found out that you were the kind of person who kicks a guy when he’s down.
Robbi: Just to spite you, I am going to “sing” the book tomorrow. Really loud until all of the second graders cheer. Or cry.
Funny…the writer in our family can’t spell worth a lick. I can spell anything and everything, even when I don’t know what it means. So he writes and I proofread, even while asking what it means. It’s a weird (and endlessly entertaining) sort of partnership.
FWIW (and further proof of my amazing proofreading skills), you spelled “signing” correctly at the beginning, which indicates to me that “singing” was (merely) evidence of inferior keyboard expertise. Heh….
Um…not to change the subject, but this book looks wonderful. Will I (a mere subscriber) be receiving it in the mail?
And last but not least, have fun tomorrow. Sounds like great fun!
Um, obviously I am better at proofreading writing other than my own or surely I would have caught that I repeated myself twice in one comment. Geez…
My kindergartener and third-grader, Oliver and Amelia, loved the assembly today. Thank you for signing a special copy for Oliver even though Mom dropped the ball on sending the book form in on time.
Hello Lisa:
Thanks so much for writing! We had a wonderful time at White Marsh yesterday. We couldn’t believe how well-behaved the kids were, how closely they paid attention, and what great questions they asked. As for Oliver’s book, we make a point never to let children suffer for the sins of their mothers!
Matthew
Thank you so much for your trip to WMES this week. Both my children, Elise(6) and Rebekah(9) enjoyed it. We really appreciate the “extra” signed copy you gave Rebekah since she left her copy at home. I had gotten the copy from Marnie at her shop over a year ago and Rebekah decided to springboard on it and do it for her 3rd grade Talbot County project last year. We definietly learned a lot.
Michelle:
You’re very welcome! I don’t know if Rebekah told you, but at one point she raised her hand and corrected our accounting of the War of 1812. She informed us that it was, in fact, the United States who declared war on Britain and not the other way around. Being flaky artist types who wouldn’t know the actual course of history if it hit us in the face, we were very impressed. We were also touched when Rebekah asked to have her picture taken with us after the reading. We felt like real live celebrities. We’d love to post that photo on our blog, with your permission, of course. We’re so pleased that our book inspired her to do more research on the subject. I can tell that she’s a great kid, and we suspect that you are probably a great mom!
Thanks again,
Matthew
Rebekah would be delighted for you to use her picture. Jenn has already sent us a copy. Thank you for your kind words and for asking before posting.
Thank you so much for the fun autograph for Robert in his book. Being British parents of a first generation American we had so much fun reading the book. Thank you for a good laugh.
Trudy