Do Your Kids Like Slime?

[1:47]Zibby Owens: This is Zibby Owens, and you're listening to Totally Booked with Zibby. Formerly, moms don't have time to read books. In my daily show, I interview today's latest best selling, buzziest, or underrated authors and story creators whose work I think is worth your time. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author, and obviously podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that's coming up and spend my time curating the best books so you don't have to. Stay in the know, get insider insights, and connect with guests like I do every single day. For more information, go to zibbymedia.com, and follow me on Instagram at zibby owens. Melissa Dele Cruz and Sarah Schiller are here to talk about Slumu, Making Friends, a graphic novel. By the way, Slumu is the SLUMOO Institute. It's a place. It has locations all around the country, and my kids have been to birthday parties there, hosted a birthday party there in New York. We've been to the one in LA, and if you haven't been and if you have kids between the ages of, I don't know, two and 18, I guess, like kids in general, you should go. Melissa De La Cruz has been on this podcast before. She is the number one New York Times and number one Publishers Weekly and number one Indie Bound bestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award winning novels for readers of all ages and creates and develops intellectual property for Disney throughout its platforms. Her novel, The Isle of Lost, the prequel to the Disney Channel original movie Descendants, spent more than fifty weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, 15 of those at number one. How amazing is that? She teamed up with the founders of SLUMOO to write this book. They are both incredibly accomplished women in their own rights as entrepreneurs who teamed up in the face of really hard times and came together to create magic. So to Karen Rabinowitz and Sarah Schiller, we are so grateful for you. Welcome so much, Sarah and Melissa. Thanks so much for coming on Totally Booked to talk about all the things Slumu, your new graphic novel, Slime. I mean, we have some so many fun places to go today. Thank you. We're excited. Very much. Okay. How did this graphic novel that takes place well, culminates in the Slumu Institute, how did it take shape? How did it come to be, and how did you all team up? So Karen,

[4:19]Guest: Sarah's cofounder of Slumu, and I go back, you know, many, many years. Let's not count. But we were writers together in our twenties. And my daughter was the one who actually introduced Karen to Slime. They were playing with Slime when Maddie was, like, nine years old. And I remember Karen was really interested in it, and I think that, you know, kind of sparked an interest and kind of led, you know, years later to Slumu. And, you know, we enjoyed going to Slumu, loved going to the playground. And then after you guys were around for a couple years, you know, you were looking for you know, to kind of expand into the media space. And Karen asked me if, Mike and I would be interested in, you know, writing an origin story and helping kind of craft, you know, the media story for for Slumo. Not just helping. Melissa and Mike did craft the origin story. Karen and I knew from the moment we saw our cute Slimu logo that Slimu was going to have a whole life and a whole group of friends. And we had wanted to bring Slimu to life for a really long time. And the fact that we got to work so closely with Melissa and Mike was a great experience, especially because it took a long time for this book to be born. Yes, it did. It's a gestational period. That was very long.

[5:41]Zibby Owens: Well, I should have I should have prefaced the whole thing by saying how obsessed my kids are with Slumu and that we've been to multiple locations. My son was actually there again this weekend with friends. So we are sort of frequent shoppers, if you will. So we and I we had a birthday party there. So anyway, I understand the whole sensory immersive experience, how it takes you out of your of your life and lets you play, which so few experiences do today. I know you don't call it a museum or anything like that, but it is a it is an experience. So maybe for people listening who might not understand what I'm even talking about with SLUMO and what we're what it is, can you just describe it? And I also find your origin story, your actual origin story for it incredibly poignant and meaningful. Can you talk a little bit about all of that?

[6:26]Guest: Yeah. Sure. Well, similar to Melissa and Karen, Karen and I have been friends for eighteen years. We met over a joint love of contemporary art. And through that friendship, both went through some really difficult personal traumas. I have an older daughter who was born with a rare genetic syndrome that's very, very debilitating. She can't speak or do any activities of daily living. And then my husband woke up at the age of 50 and had massive bilateral strokes, and he is profoundly disabled, can't speak, can't do any activities of daily living. So the the day to day was really, really difficult, and Karen was beside me that whole time. And then her husband lost his life due to mental illness. And then her cousin was murdered in the Parkland school shooting. And she was really down and out when Melissa and her daughter came over with slime. And Karen discovered joy through slime and was like, I got to bring this to Sarah and her daughters. So she brought the slime over, and then we saw my two daughters, my my disabled daughter and my typically developing daughter playing together as if they were completely equal and peers. And Karen and I just looked at each other and said, we have to bring this to the world. How can we bring this to life? Like, more people need to experience this. This is not the slime of our childhood. It's something way different. And Samu Institute was born a year later. It went from PowerPoint to funding to this immersive experience. Now we have seven in The US. And it's really something where people can go in and leave all the stress behind, put their phones down and get their roll up their sleeves, get their hands sticky and do everything from walking on slime, slingshotting slime. And the best part is custom making their own slime that they can take home with them and bring a piece of the experience back to to remember and play with. And I know that Karen's

[8:36]Zibby Owens: experience herself informed the opening, and you saw your daughters playing. Like, do you also did the two of you play with slime? Like, are you into it? Both of you?

[8:47]Guest: Well, Yes. We're obsessed with slime. We play with slime every day. We probably could have a lot of different jobs or careers, and we've chosen this one. You really can't complain when you wake up every morning and your mission is to deliver joy and you get to play and you get to remind adults that they can play too. And it's an important part of of your life if you wanna be healthy.

[9:14]Zibby Owens: That's amazing. Yeah. I prefer kind of butter slime. I'm I don't know. A butter slime. Do or maybe cloud. I don't know. Actually, my son just brought home, it wasn't even slime, but from from your store, snow that we made, like, in a bowl. But I can't remember. And now, of course, there's snow everywhere. But, anyway, thank you. Now we have snow in the freezer, artificial, real snow outside.

[9:37]Guest: The instant snow is is is used to make slime. So that's one of the ingredients in a snow fizz slime. So you can now make slime if you wanna get some some glue and have at it. It's a good winter day activity. Thank you for spilling my afternoon. I we will be doing that. And and making friends has slime recipe in the back too. So I saw that. I did see. Yeah. One of the things we're trying to do besides bring joy to life through the graphic novel, but also infuse it with the science and the craftiness that is part of Slumo Institute's fabric.

[10:14]Zibby Owens: And let's talk more about the actual book because the book, even without there being a Slumo Institute, if this was all fiction, it would still be a story of, you know, overcoming you know, not boyfriend shaming is the wrong word, but when a friend doesn't acknowledge you in school and, like, how that feels when you are missing a parent, when you are longing for something that you just can't seem to find. Also, girls loving science. Like, there's so much cool stuff in the book that you've really packed in there. Melissa, I know you're a total expert, and you've been on my podcast before. And you're since then, by the way, one of my kids starred in Descendants the play, like, in their local production. So I was thinking of you during that. But anyway, tell me a little bit about structuring the story because it's not just people go to a a place and explore. You know? There's a real heart to the story.

[11:04]Guest: Yeah. You know, when we thought about the book, I really wanted to approach it, you know, the way I approach Descendants, you know, where there is the Slumu experience already, and Slumu, the character, you know, was somebody that the kids were familiar with. But, you know, how did Slumu come to be? What's the background story? And also, you know, who are their friends? So Mike and I really wanted to, you know, create something that was as, you know, kind of iconic and legendary, but still, you know, that was relatable to, you know, our age group of readers, you know, from five to 12. You know, it's a kind of a big age group, but, really, I think, like, the eight, nine year olds who are, you know, reading on their own would really like it. But, you know, it's that age where friendship is the most important thing. You know, what is a friend? What makes a friend? You know? How how do you have friends? And we wanted to show that Daisy, who's our STEM, you know, it's kinda slime girl, was not alone. And I remember, Sarah, you were like, you know, she's not alone even if though she's alone in school. You know? Like, kids have this whole kinda online world now. And, you know, Daisy has all these kind of fascinating, amazing friends who see her for what she is. You know? There's a there's a way where, you know, maybe at school, they don't know who you are. You know? But Daisy and her slime channel, you know, is friends with the MIT professor of slime. You know what I mean? You know? So we wanted to add that kind of fantasy element. I mean, we did really pack in a lot, you know, but, you know, it is the foundation for all the stories to come. So Yeah. I saw in the back, it looks like there's gonna be another one on its heels. You wanna talk about that too? What is that one about? Not yet. We're gonna We're not ready. Okay. No spoilers yet. Interesting.

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[15:48]Zibby Owens: What is your hope with the book? Will exposing people to SLUMO who didn't know about it, showing people that they're not alone, like, what else do you have? What are the hopes for the book?

[15:59]Guest: I mean, I always wanna entertain kids. You know? I I want kids to read the book and laugh and, you know, like the story and, you know, see themselves in Daisy or fall in love with Daisy or fall in love with Wren. I mean, as a reader, you know, I just want the kids to want more, you know? Like, what is next? You know? And I guess we can say a little bit. So the next one introduces more of our characters. We have, you know, about four kind of main characters of kids who become involved in Slumu Institute. And they're, you know, they're Slumu sidekicks, which is what we call Slumu. So Slumu is not just Slumu. Slumu is the experience. Slumu is the kind of species that they are, you know, sentient slime. You know? So kind of a kinda expanding the adventure, the mythology. Yeah. I like to I like to write books that are addictive. You know? I think, you know, turning kids into readers, you know, and having a graphic novel be kind of a gateway book. You know? You pick up the Slumu Mickey Friends, and then you wanna read other graphic novels, and you wanna read more books. I mean, it's really about turning kids into readers is what the goal is always. I love that. I I couldn't echo that more, especially as the as a mom and the mom of a reader, I want kids to fall in love with reading. And I think Melissa and Mike's storytelling combined with the absolutely stunning, you know, artwork that we have in the book, I think will really hook kids in and get them excited. I agree. Yeah. I mean, the art is amazing. We are are so proud of the book. It's so beautiful and fun, you know, and just vibrant. So Totally. You could all use a little injection of color and fun even through a book if you can't get to the experience.

[17:47]Zibby Owens: And what I what I really love about it is it shows that beauty can come from pain. Right? There is a tear that has all these powers when combined with the right elements. And I feel like, Sarah, your story, all of your stories speak to that as well. And so the pain is sort of embodied by this chemical reaction, but really it's something that in sort of post traumatic stress or post traumatic growth, a lot of people can sort of relate to that there I mean, even though some things are just terrible, that there can be beauty that comes from pain. I

[18:24]Guest: mean, that's the genius of what Melissa and Mike tapped into was and I do think it comes from decades long friendships that Karen and Melissa had, right, and that Karen and I have. And that darkness to light story, that ability that we embody as entrepreneurs that you you can be down and out and and rise forth and come out on the other side and and be a better person, but also give back and create something that's unbelievable and remarkable. And I think Melissa brought that to life with Miss June, the character who creates Slumu. But what I also love and and the way that I describe our young adult humans that are that are in the book is that they're tapping into their, not just their own pain, but also their inner charm because Ren taps into what makes him special. Right. And I think with the age group and so many haters and bullies out there, right, it's remembering what makes you unique and makes you special that you should feel good about every day when you go to school, not about either what you're being teased on or or uncomfortable with. Like, remember what makes you special. And I think the book really focuses on that too. Love it. Yeah. No. I mean, I definitely when we met with Karen and Sarah and, you know, I know I knew Karen's story I didn't know Sarah's, but I really, Mike and I were like, the, you know, the the the the fictional story has to have that element of their own story, you know, and that's why we have the tear, the pain, you know. I think, you know, it's what makes us human. And I think it's part of what makes joy so wonderful because we know that there's sorrow, you know, in that. So we gave miss June a little bit of a sadness backstory. And, also, you know, one of the things that Slumo is so good at is talking about mental health. You know? And so we wanted to put that in, you know, the the the fictional story as well, you know, trying to, you know, kind of talk about, you know, depression and anxiety and all those things, you know, that kids go through, especially in this day and age. So yeah. We're excited. So help me impress my kids here. Is there anything coming either in the Slumu experience,

[20:48]Zibby Owens: in the graphic novel world, in further expansions that's as exciting as this graphic novel debut? Or or just a little something fun that's that's coming down the pike in one way, shape, or form. Or maybe or maybe it's just the book, and the book is good enough. SLUMO songs.

[21:06]Guest: Okay. So, you know, I think we have a SLUMO Spotify, you know, with original songs that are being incorporated into the experience. So there's a specific Slumu happy birthday song. I don't know if you when you guys did your birthday party at Slumu, if you were part of that. So I got to experience it on my birthday, and it was really exciting. So it's kind of a flash mob experience on your birthday Amazing. Which is kind of amazing. You know? And they all kinda dance around you in this Slumu dance. So, you know and some of that, you know, we're working hand in hand with putting the stuff that's in the experience in the books and talking about how, you know, that came to light. So it's it's really fun to kind of create this imaginary foundation for everything because we want people to read the book, go to the store, and experience it or, you know, go to the experience and then read the fictional story, you know, which kind of expands it. You know? So Yeah. I was gonna say that we if you haven't been to all of them, every institute is slightly different. Okay. And one of the super cool we have two super cool exhibits that are up and alive today. One is around sound. It's Grooves Groovy Groves. So you your body conducts electricity. The slime conducts electricity because there's water. In slime, there's water in your body. So by playing with slime, we have a room where you're you're conducting your electricity in through copper bowls that then plays music. And if everyone's playing with a different bowl, it creates this symphony of sounds and a dance song. And that's something that we brought to life in a couple of our institutes, but also that Melissa and Mike were able to bring to life perhaps in future books. So like we're starting to bring the world's, I guess, with intent, but also without intent. It's very natural bringing them together. We also have a part of the experience around slime mold. And that's a really fun installation that's right now in Atlanta. So this ability to really connect with the science part of slime in the world of slime mold and everything and making it cool to to want to love science and be a part of science, especially for young women. Mhmm. Amazing.

[23:31]Zibby Owens: Well, thank you both so much. Thanks for coming on to talk about the book and for writing the book, and Sarah, you all for creating such a fabulous experience for families, for kids, and adding so much joy to the world when you could have easily chosen a completely different way of handling everything that is on your plate, which is formidable. So thank you so much for all that you give back. Thank you, Zibby. Thank you, Melissa.

[23:57]Guest: Yay. Thank you. Okay.

[24:00]Zibby Owens: Alright. Bye bye. Take care. Thank you for listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly moms don't have time to read books. If you loved the show, tell a friend, leave a review, follow me on Instagram at Zippy Owens, and spread the word. Thanks so much. Oh, and buy the books.