Bob Staake: When I was a kid in L.A., I remember seeing a Golden Book with Popeye on the cover. In the story, he and Brutus dug a trench to the Atlantic Ocean. I was so completely mesmerized by the scenery and taken by that book, I decided that's what I wanted to do. 

BS: I've had 50 books published, but for every one book I've published, I have written eight that I realized sucked! 

BS: When it comes down to specifics, it's really whatever it takes to make the story work. I look at it as a challenge. When I wrote "The Donut Chef," there was no message; it was a story about how competitive a small town gets when the Donut Chef's lines go out the door. New donut shops pop up, each trying to outdo the other. In the end, the chef sits back and decides to bake bagels instead. My editor at the time thought this ending was too sad, so I changed it. In the finished book, a young customer wants just a plain donut and has a hard time finding it. This is where the Donut Chef comes through with one of his original donuts. So, I allowed the editor to change my story, and it ended up with a universal message. 

BS: My number-one thing about children's books is, never in history has a 6-year-old walked into a bookstore and laid down $16 for a book. My first line of defense is through the moms. My art and story need to appeal to them first. You gain their trust, and they pass it on to the kids. Kids are easy to win over. When a mom tells me, "My child loves your books," I am honored, because I know what today's distractions are for kids with gaming systems, TV, etc. 

BS: I have a pragmatic point of view, so I don't think it affects me. I like adapting. If an editor said I could only do a book in yellow and green, I say, "Bring it on!" I look at the Kindle and iPhone being essentially the pop-up version of an ebook. Some books are so intricate in design they end up exploiting the potential of the paper; you can't get the same result with technology. On the flip side, with the animation for the iPhone, the opportunity for writers and illustrators is mindblowing. Tactile benefits of a book are wonderful, but everyone thought TV would destroy radio. We have a long history of fear of technology. We'll get through it. My bigger concern is doing what I can as a creator that doesn't impact negatively on the traditional publishing world. However, I believe if there ever is a lone survivor in publishing, it will be picture books. 

Moms, keep an eye out for Bob's new books, "Look! A Book!," "Cars Galore," "Bugs Galore," "I'm a Monster Truck," "Shapes Around Town," "Letters About Town," "Colors in the City" and "Baby Burp #1."