
Blue's Clues Creator Just Figured Out the Secret to Long-Form Picture Books
–Howard Lovy
Executive Editor, Foreword Reviews



Hi! I’m Ricky Lee!
I’m 8 years old. I like riding my bike and my skateboard really fast. Crashing into things is fun too. I’m very strong and can lift a big crate of apples by myself. Mom says I’m the best little helper in the bakery except there’s one problem: I’m also the best at knocking things over by accident. I do my homework really quickly because when I finish I’m allowed to go outside and play soccer, which I like more than anything in the world.
Tako is my best friend.

Hi! I’m Tako!
I like being a good dog. I like getting petted. I like muffins, cupcakes, licking batter bowls and playing soccer (I don’t understand the rules of soccer, but I like running back and forth and barking a lot). I don’t like the dog catcher, thunderstorms, mean people, and bad cats.
Ricky is my best friend.

Hi! I’m Mimi Lee!
I like having ideas and working to make the ideas happen. I had the idea for The Happy Family Bakery, for Papi Lee to be the master baker, for Ricky Lee to be the little helper, and for Grandpa Lee to be the big helper. I like good boys and good dogs.

Hi! I’m Papi Lee!
I like making things taste delicious and look beautiful. I also like to paint pictures. I’m very good at baking and painting, and also very good at forgetting things. I forget what I put in the oven, I forget where my socks are, I forget everything. That’s one of the reasons I like Mimi Lee. She remembers everything.

Hi! I’m Grandpa Lee!
I like grandchildren, cooking dinner for the whole family, sleeping, and being a big helper in the bakery.

Hi! I’m Mia!
Me like Icky and Tak-tak.

Hi! I’m Lia!
More. More cuppy-cakes for Lia.

Hi! I’m Ferret!
I like mold mice, weasel worms and wood wasps. I like being sneaky. I like Mr. Pritchard because whenever I do something sneaky for him he gives me weasel treats.

Hi! I’m Mr. Pritchard!
I like making money. I like the sound of money. When I’m alone in my office I do a special money dance. I like sneaky ferrets. I don’t like children, puppies, or birthday parties.

Hi! I’m Mr. McCracken!
I like chasing bad dogs, catching them in my big net, and putting them in cages where they belong.

Hi! I’m Allie the Cat!
My friend TS Eliot wrote a poem about cats like me. This is basically all you have to know:
You now have learned enough to see
That Cats are much like you and me
And other people whom we find
Possessed of various types of mind.
For some are sane and some are mad
And some are good and some are bad
And some are better, some are worse —
But all may be described in verse.