MMGM: GIVEAWAY & INTERVIEW w/ AMY DYCKMAN, AUTHOR OF BOY+BOT

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM) is a weekly event hosted by author Shannon Messenger. For a list of other MMGM posts, click HERE.

BOY + BOT
Amy Dyckman
Knopf Books for Young Readers
32 pp. (Picture Book)

One day, a boy and a robot meet in the woods. They play. They have fun.

But when Bot gets switched off, Boy thinks he's sick. The usual remedies—applesauce, reading a story—don't help, so Boy tucks the sick Bot in, then falls asleep.

Bot is worried when he powers on and finds his friend powered off. He takes Boy home with him and tries all his remedies: oil, reading an instruction manual. Nothing revives the malfunctioning Boy! Can the Inventor help fix him?

Using the perfect blend of sweetness and humor, this story of an adorable duo will win the hearts of the very youngest readers.

I know this isn't really "middle grade," and I don't normally review picture books, but this one is so cute I had to tell you about it. Author Amy Dyckman has not only agreed to an interview, but she is also providing a prize pack to giveaway to one lucky reader. The pack includes: 1 copy of the book, wristbands, pin, bookmark & more! Details on how to win are at the end of this post. So, let's get this party started, shall we?

     Tell us about your book in one sentence.

BOY + BOT, illustrated by the wonderful Dan Yaccarino, is a sweet and funny friendship story about a boy, a robot, and a little misunderstanding over a power switch.

     What inspired you to write this story?

I’ve always loved robots, so I’ve spent a lot of time imagining what it would be like to have a robot for a best friend.  And since we often think of a robot as helping a person, I thought it would be fun to start the story where a robot needs a (little) person’s help instead.

     Share a little about your journey to publication.

I finished the first draft of BOY + BOT in November, 2008.  In early 2009, I brought it to a few NJ SCBWI events, and received great feedback on how to make it better.  In June of 2009, I brought BOY + BOT to the Agent Pitch Session at the NJ SCBWI Annual Conference, and met the amazing Scott Treimel of S©ott Treimel NY.  Scott offered representation, and just a short time later, BOY + BOT had the perfect home with Michele Burke at Knopf.  And when Michele told me that that Dan Yaccarino would be illustrating, I ran happy laps around my house for an hour.

What books did you enjoy reading as a kid?

All of them!  I read and re-read everything I could get my hands on.  But my favorites were stories with mischievous main characters like WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE and friendship-despite-differences stories like FROG AND TOAD, GEORGE AND MARTHA, etc.

What do you enjoy reading now?

I read piles of picture books every day, and still like the quirky friendship/social situations stories best.  At night, after my inner writing voice has fallen asleep, I like a good sci-fi/fantasy, paranormal, or dystopian YA.

What can we expect from you in the future?

My next book, TEA PARTY RULES (the humorous story of a very bossy little girl and a bear cub who really wants cookies), will release from Viking in 2013.  It’s edited by Leila Sales, and illustrated by the fabulous Keith Campbell.  And I have another project I hope to announce soon. In my “someday” future, just like Boy, I’d like to meet a robot friend in the woods, too.  

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

To be eligible to win Amy Dyckman's prize pack, all you need to do is leave a comment below and include your email address so I can contact you if you win.  

This giveaway will end on May 21st.