Spud-tastic children's book characters come to life at parades, community events

COEUR d'ALENE — The tubular tuber characters created by Rathdrum author, publisher and illustrator Rhonda Newton are only growing in their a-peel.

"The potatoes do have a following,” Newton said.

Newton launched a line of children's books and related products in 2023. The rhyming books follow adventurous potatoes Paisley and Masher in such titles as "Paisley the Potato Learns to Ski," "Masher the Potato Goes Fishing" and "Paisely the Potato Learns to Play Pickleball." The books can be found in libraries, bookstores or online at rrpublishingllc.com.

Those characters have come to life with the help of a few good friends who don Newton's homemade costumes and spread the potato joy at community events, most recently the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association's Lighting Ceremony Parade.

“Especially at parade time when they mingle around, oh my gosh," Newton said. "Two dozen people lined up to have pictures with the potatoes. It’s been really, really fun and really exciting."

Newton's boyfriend's son, Cameron Dietz, plays Masher. Dietz's son, Lincoln, 6, plays little potato Sprout. Dietz's good friend B’Shaun Taylor plays Paisley.

"When we were first being introduced, no one knew who we were," Dietz said, chuckling. "They thought we were Twinkies, burritos, roasted marshmallows and the newest one was lattes."

The potatoes have participated in three big parades — enough for some people to call them by their character names.

"This year as we were walking down, people were shouting my name, 'Paisley! Come see us!'" Taylor said. "They recognized who we were from the characters in these books."

The idea for the Paisely and Masher series originated with felt ornaments Newton made for the holidays.

"That's how it started," she said. "Now my brain won't shut off."

Since October 2023, Newton has published six books with more in the works. This includes her newest character, a country potato named Klondike, and "Sprout the Potato" is expected to publish in the spring.

The potato bunch loves the popularity of the characters and looks forward to engaging with more community members.

"It's nothing but good times all the time," Dietz said. "Everyone's always said Idaho needs some potato mascots, and they’ve finally arrived."

    From left, Paisley the Potato, children's author Rhonda Newton, Art Dietz and Masher the Potato carry a sign in the 2023 Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association's Lighting Ceremony Parade. Newton's characters have been gaining momentum as she expands her book series.
  

    Local author Rhonda Newton's potato-centered children's books began with felt ornaments she crafted, seen here Tuesday.