Boy + Bot + Ame Dyckman!

It's the Ame Dyckman interview!!  Ame's debut picture book, Boy + Bot, was just published by Knopf, and it's about ... Well, it's about a boy and a bot, in't it?  Her next book, Tea Party Rules, won't be far behind.  Ame is known far and wide for her Minnie Mouse voice, her frequently-changing hair colors, and her big heart.  Here's what she had to say:

1. Does your own family contain any of the following units:

a. A short, bald Inventor?
b. A tall, red robot?
c. A one-eyed blue light bulb set on spider legs?
d. A boy?

(laughing) Not exactly, Susan. We have:

a. A tall, fuzzy chemist.
b. A small, red robot vacuum.
c. A nightlight.
d. A (terrific) girl.

2. Does the Bot Inventor dye his shirt every day to exactly match his one-
eyed pet light bulb?  Alternatively, does he dye the light bulb to match his
shirt?  Why or why not?

The Inventor has a closet full of those blue lab coats. Watt (the little light
bulb bot) chose the color.

3. On the Boy + Bot cover flap, you say that when you became a grown-
up, you remembered that you wanted to write books when you grew
up.  During the time before you remembered, what were you doing to keep
busy?

I had a variety of fun jobs, including window display designer, costumed
character, and brownie taste-tester. But writing for children is my favorite
job of all.

4. You ask your online followers to Bot-spot and notify you.  What is the
most unusual place your book has been spotted so far?

I received a #SpotBot picture of BOY + BOT in chair #108 of what appears
to be a very nice theater. Where is the theater? What was the show? It’s
a mystery!

        

5. Boy + Bot got an awesome review in The New York Times. Has Boy
read it?  Has Bot?  If so, what did they think of it?

We all read it together, and everyone loved it! Bot put it in his scrapbook.

6. It's rare to see such a complete and unconditional acceptance between
a human, a robot, and their respective families.  Is there, by any chance, a
larger lesson to be learned here?

That’s a great question, Susan! I asked Boy and Bot what they thought
about all of this. Here’s what they said:

BOY: “Bot’s my friend!”
BOT: “Boy-is-my-friend!”

Then they ran off to build a fort before I could ask them anything else. (I
was going to ask the Inventor, Watt, and Boy’s parents, but they were
playing canasta. I didn’t want to interrupt the fun.)

7. Why don't Boy and Bot invite Watt to play with
them?  I sense that he would like to.

They ask, but Watt enjoys helping the Inventor. Occasionally, though, Watt
will join Boy and Bot when they play hand shadow theater.

8. When is your next book, TEA PARTY RULES, coming out?  Do you
know yet who the illustrator will be?  Can you give us some hints about
what the book will be about?

TEA PARTY RULES, the humorous story of a bossy little girl and a
bear cub who really wants cookies, is scheduled for release in 2013.
It’s illustrated by brilliant newcomer Keith Campbell, whose first book,
LESTER’S DREADFUL SWEATERS, comes out this Fall.

     Ame tweets at @amedyckman.  Congratulations to her, Boy, Bot, and the whole rest of the crew!