Bobby & John Maslen • Author & Illustrator
Lynn Maslen Kertell • Managing Partner
Sylvia Maslen Davids • eCommerce Director
Bobby & John Maslen
Author & Illustrator
After
meeting as students at Rhode Island School of Design, Bobby Lynn
Hartness and John Maslen married and have spent their lives together
creating beautiful things for others.
John
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.
As
the mother of four children, Bobby Lynn, was involved
in cooperative preschools for nine years where
she discovered her love of teaching young children.
She became a teacher at an independent
pre- through high school. Her work with young children
involved constant invention in art, math games,
physical growth activities, and reading materials. It
was there that she created the Bob Books when she didn’t
find books that she felt were interesting enough for the young
children she taught.
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Her
interest in innovation and sensitivity to children are trademarks
of the Bob Books. "I loved being a parent and a teacher,
and now a grandmother", says Bobby, "I think it takes
lots of creativity to bring up children and to teach them."
Finally her interest
in children’s reading success, plus growing requests for
the books from other teachers and parents, lured her away from
school and visual arts and into the book business.
"Then
she officially hired me to illustrate and help market and publish
the books", says John, as demand increased.
When
articles recommending the Bob Books appeared in the Washington
Post, USA Today, PBS Morning Edition, CNN, and other newspapers
and magazines, 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.
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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
Sylvia Maslen Davids
eCommerce Director
Sylvia, living in Colorado, is the youngest daughter of the Maslens. Thanks to the Internet, even living 1300 miles from the head office, she is able to maintain a strong position in this family-run business. Overseeing shipments, customer service, and a “finger on the pulse”of the market keep her busy and involved with Bob Books Publications, LLC on a daily basis. You may email her directly at Sylvia@BobBooks.com
