Building a Zilot: Bob and Erin Odenkirk share the joys of creating together
Written by Charlie Chappell. Photo courtesy of SCAD Savannah Film Festival.
Yesterday at the SCAD Museum of Art, Bob and Erin Odenkirk spoke about their new children’s poetry book, “Zilot and Other Important Rhymes,” sharing how their father-daughter relationship shaped the project. “We’ll build a Zilot tonight,” said Bob Odenkirk. The inventive and whimsical poems are charmingly witty, coining terms like “Zilot,” (zih-lit) which refers to a blanket fort. The event gave insight into the beautiful world of a child’s imagination, nurtured by a father who wasn’t given the same privilege when he was young. Bob Odenkirk said, “I needed encouragement as a kid, and I didn’t get a lot of it.”
The collection of poems follows the growth and maturity of Bob Odenkirk’s own children, including Erin Odenkirk, 22, who illustrated the book, through life lessons, silly stories and self-reflections. Bob Odenkirk takes inspiration from authors like Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein who set the standard for children’s poetry.
On her admiration for her father, Erin Odenkirk said, “He’s a writer I really respect, but he’s also my dad.” This book holds so much emotion and love, which is reflected in Bob and Erin Odenkirk’s relationship.
The event was a light-hearted, whimsical reading that captured the hearts of the audience. It’s not all fun and games, though. This book is about maturing, finding your voice and taking rejection. Bob and Erin Odenkirk left the audience with a sense of childlike wonder and nostalgia, making their first book a triumph.
