An Idaho author says she’s “riding the potato wave” after the spud characters in her children’s books have quite literally come to life.
Rhonda Newton says she’d been making felt potato ornaments for more than a decade when one day, while packing them away, she thought: these look like children’s book characters.
Soon after, Paisley and Masher the potatoes were born, making their way onto the page into what is now a nine-book series for children.
The books can be found throughout bookstores, libraries and online — but the characters themselves are enjoying a much broader a-peel.
“My potato mascots have quite the following,” she says. “They walk in parades, they high five the crowd. They’re really starting to catch on.”
At a recent event, more than two dozen people lined up to have their picture taken with the characters. Fans have even braved wintery weather to show up for book signings, where Newton loves to talk about her beloved spuds.
While the books aren’t potato-industry specific, her latest character, Sprout, lives on a farm and has a “wonky stem” he tries to hide under a hat.
“By the end, he realizes that “everybody loves him because of his wonky stem,” Newton says.
“So, there’s a cute little message there about just loving yourself the way you are.”
The rhyming books have also been used in fundraisers and in schools. And the mascots — a blend of good friends and family wearing the costumes Newton has sewn — continue to spread potato joy at parades and community events. And of course, Newton plans to write more adventure stories about Paisley, Masher and Sprout.
“I’ve got t-shirts and die cut stickers and plushies — I’m all in,” she says. “Truly, it’s like a faucet right now and I just can’t believe nobody has tapped into this before.”
Looking for a unique gift for the young potato lovers in your life?
The books, with titles such as Paisley the Potato Learns to Ski, Masher the Potato Goes Fishing, and Paisley the Potato Learns to Play Pickleball, can be found in bookstores or online at rrpublishingllc.com.
