Founded in Portland, Oregon, Bob Books started when teacher Bobby Lynn Maslen was looking for reading material suitable for children taking their very first steps into reading. When she couldn’t find books interesting enough for her young students, she created the Bob Books. Bobby’s 13 years of teaching experience, and hands-on field testing of Bob Books, means they truly suit the needs of youngsters starting the great adventure of reading. Each new Bob Books reader will soon be able to happily say, “I read the whole book!”®

The first books were handmade, inspired by two small dolls that Bobby bought at a craft fair. She named the dolls Mat and Sam and spun stories about them, illustrated with line drawings that the children could copy and color.

Articles recommending Bob Books appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, and regional newspapers and magazines around the country. The books had entered the spotlight, and parents wanted Bob Books.

The Maslens turned to a major publisher of children’s books, Scholastic, Inc., for help publishing Bob Books. With Scholastic, Bob Books have grown to sixteen titles: five sets of books written by Bobby, five sets by her daughter Lynn Maslen Kertell, and six leveled early reader books. Bob Books have sold millions of copies.

Bobby is retired, and lives with original Bob Books illustrator and husband John, in Portland, Oregon.

Lynn Maslen Kertell has been involved with Bob Books right from the beginning, starting with the first edition in the 1970s. Lynn pasted-up and hand-lettered the original Bob Books, created by her parents, Bobby and John Maslen, when she was in high school.

As Lynn’s own daughter was beginning to learn to read, returning to the family business was a natural step. Her experience tackling the fun, bonding and sometimes complex task of helping her child learn to read, showed her that Bob Books really work. There are many skills a child needs to become literate. Bob Books' measured approach respects the steps that turn a child into a reader, and entertains them with real stories that kids can relate to.

Lynn brings the Maslen sense of humor, warmth and gentle encouragement to her writing, as she creates the next generation of Bob Books. She continues Bobby's phonics-based approach to teaching reading, and is proud to contribute to the millions of children who can say with pride, "I read the whole book!"®

Lynn lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and daughter.