Behind the Scenes with Mike Huber

by Hannah Crawford

This month, you can read “Baby Maria” by Mike Huber as a printable picture book! This is especially exciting because “Baby Maria” was the first story ever published on Rainbow Rumpus. For “Behind the Scenes,” we talked to the author.

How did you get started writing for Rainbow Rumpus?

I wrote “Baby Maria” in 2003. When Laura started Rainbow Rumpus in 2005, she published the story in the first issue.

How did you think up the story for “Baby Maria”?

I had a few kids in my preschool class who were adopted from Guatemala. Some of these kids had two moms, and we had no books about two moms adopting a child. I decided I should write that book.

Why do you like to tell stories for kids?

I like to tell stories because, unlike a book, [they] can change each time. I like seeing what parts of a story kids like the best and then changing the parts that don’t work as well. I also like to hear kids tell the stories themselves. They change them around, too.

I often play ukulele when I tell a story. It keeps people’s attention, especially if I can’t think of what to say next. I can take my time. But I have also found that long pauses are okay when telling a story. Sometimes that makes it more exciting. They wonder what’s going to happen next. And I often wonder, too.

What’s your favorite part of teaching?

I have been teaching for 19 years now, and I have yet to have two days that are the same. I always start with a plan for what will happen during the day, but four-year-olds often take my plan in directions I didn’t predict.

What’s your family like?

I have a daughter who is seven. She likes to draw, paint, and swim. She also likes to go to Rainbow Rumpus events.

I have a wife who builds puppets. Some of the puppets are big. Last year she made a 25-foot whale puppet that sprayed water out of its spout.

We all like to build puppets for the May Day parade in Minneapolis. We also like ice cream.

How many instruments do you play? How did you learn to play so many?

I play the ukulele the most. I used to play drums. Those are the only instruments I play songs on. I also play electric guitar, mandolin, bells from old telephones, railroad spikes, and other things I find, but those I play more like you might play with a toy. I can always find a sound I like, but other people might not really think I’m playing music. It doesn’t bother me as long as I’m having fun.