Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk to Write a Children’s Book Inspired by His 2 Kids
Veteran actor Bob Odenkirk, famous for his role in the series “Better Call Saul,” plans to release a book. Interestingly, a unique bedtime ritual inspired the book.
Bob mentioned that when his daughter, Erin, and son, Nate, were little, he would rather write poems than read them midnight stories.
“I wanted to include them in it. So I would write a line, and they would write theirs, then we’d finish it together. Or I would let them start the poem, and we would try to find a way through it,” the actor recalled.
“They’re pretty silly, and many are kind of crazy. But I kept them because some weren’t just gibberish. They had ideas, and I thought, there’s a great little book of poems in this,” he added.
Big true beloved announcement! So happy to share this – a book I wrote WITH my kids! Heart bursting in a good way! @LittleBrownYR pic.twitter.com/UbdEkXTXFm
— Mr. Bob Odenkirk (@mrbobodenkirk) February 13, 2023
How it All Began
Odenkirk, 60, was asked about the poems written by his children, Erin and Nate, who are now grown. He mentioned that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Erin and Nate asked Bob about them.
“He pulled out this book and was like, let’s try to write this, and why don’t you do some drawings for it,” Erin, 22, told People. Odenkirk truly believed it would make a good book, a good kids’ book — with Erin as the illustrator.
That’s precisely how the book “Zilot & Other Important Rhymes” was born. He said that “Zilot” was the name Nate gave a blanket and wasn’t just ordinary.
“I wanted to retain some of the pure silliness in what the kids had written,” Odenkirk said. “Otherwise, we would lose that ‘wrote it with a kid’ feel.”
Odenkirk and his kids on the book creation
Working together on the book created a special bond between father and daughter, with his daughter describing the experience as empowering.
We are so excited for @mrbobodenkirk and Erin Odenkirk's ZILOT & OTHER IMPORTANT RHYMES–coming to a bookstore near you October 2023!https://t.co/iJJiqOmOYb via @people
— Little, Brown Young Readers (@LittleBrownYR) February 13, 2023
“His faith in me was really important to the project,” she said. “Also, letting me take the reins for a while, or me seceding to him because he’s had much more experience and has the voice for this book.”
“It started as him mostly writing the poems, and it ended up being our workshopping them fully together. And I feel like we’re a good team for that.”
They both agreed that their relationship was further strengthened after Odenkirk suffered a heart attack on the set of Better Call Saul in 2021.
“I’m starting to ask myself, what’s the best way to spend my time? And being around people I love and having a certain space in my mind to think and to relax is raising my priorities,” said the actor.
The collection features new poems as well. “They don’t read like poems that little kids wrote,” Erin added. “They read like smart poems with a kids’ sense of fun.”
What’s Next for Bob Odenkirk?
Though fans would want to see what “Zilot and Other Important Rhymes” would offer, they would also be keen to know what’s next for the actor.
Odenkirk’s next project would see him star in the AMC Lucky Hank, set to debut on March 19, where he also acts as executive producer.
So you do not need to call Saul, but I’m pretty sure he would appreciate it if you checked out his new book.
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