You are, respectively, the illustrator and author of critically acclaimed, very popular children’s books. You are husband and wife. You are busy parents of four, living in a hayloft on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. You are also commercial salmon fishers in Alaska (although that is a whole ‘nuther story…).
At the beginning of the last school year, you swept most of that aside. You packed your children (and your whack-a-doodle dog Dumbles) onto a converted school bus adorned with Robbi’s brightly colored murals. You struck out on the “Busload of Books” tour.
After 11 months, almost 45,000 miles – and the acquisition in Utah of an additional whack-a-doodle dog – you’d visited Title 1 schools in every state and the District of Columbia.
At each stop, you offered fun, interactive presentations to adoring and adorable students from low-income communities. You unleashed their creativity in writing and art; you stoked their love of reading. You gave away 150,000 books and 25,000 “reading buddy” teddy bears, making sure each child has something to own and cherish forever.
Social media geniuses that you are, you took us along on the journey. We saw art plastering classroom walls, inspired by you. We saw the wildly inventive books that the students wrote and drew. We also saw many, many hugs, and (inevitably) the students showering your dogs with love. Almost as much love as you showered on those students.
Throughout your journey, you were ceaseless advocates for public education. You saluted hero teachers, librarians and principals who do so much with so few resources. You collaborated on research to measure the effect of your school visits on literacy and creativity. You spotlighted the trauma, mental health issues and other social concerns that kids must overcome just to learn effectively.
Your journey may have been measured in miles; its impact will be measured in opened minds and expanded hearts.
In recognition of your distinguished achievement in children’s literature, education and advocacy, Williams College is proud to honor you both with its Bicentennial Medal.