As then-teacher Elizabeth VanHoutan read her daughter bedtime stories, she became disenchanted with the tales. There was a poor rhyme or something that didn’t quite make sense, and she said, “If they can do it, I can do it.” 

She began writing short poems that would appeal to kids – as a third-grade teacher, she had plenty of real-life research in that area – and compiled her ideas. 

VanHoutan then went to her brother, graphic designer and illustrator, Nick Perry, to provide the artwork.

Together, they’ve created a series of three books: Smothered In Ketchup, Smothered in Mustard, and Smothered in Relish. 

VanHoutan said they drew inspiration from Shel Silverstein and wanted to name the book after a real line from a poem about smothering curly fries in ketchup called out to them, with the added bonus that “smothering something in ketchup is such a kid thing to do. I fell in love with the name,” she said. 

They work with VanHoutan, providing a series of poems and letting Perry take the artistic reigns. 

“I think there’s a lot of trust; sometimes the ideas are really clear when you read it and I know how to tackle it,” he said. “Other things aren’t as obviously visually and we will talk about it.” 

VanHoutan, who is now an assistant principal, said she uses silly ideas as they come, some of which are based simply on her imagination. 

Others are based on the family’s real childhood experiences. There’s Charlie, the cookie jar, which their Mom, Libby Mellies, still has in her kitchen. While Charlie’s origins are unknown, his reputation is legendary; all three of Mellies’ kids want the jar as their own. 

“We’ve had it as long as I can remember,” Perry said. “It has this big goofy face that someone clearly hand-carved and we’ve always fought over it.”  

Another poem, The Slumber Party, recalls the time VanHoutan drew a mustache on her childhood best friend when she stayed the night. 

“I drew this big, red mustache on her and she didn’t know,” VanHoutan said. 

Perry too, remembered the origin story from The Slumber Party from their childhood home in St. Mary’s. 

“We’re at the breakfast table and she had a mustache and we’re just letting her talk,” he said. “It was one of those things where we immediately knew the drill and were in on the joke of how long can we keep this going.” 

Another real-life character, Bass Boat Bob, comes from a character their Dad, Bill, created when he and his friends pretended to be wrestling promoters. 

“When our Dad got a new camcorder, there’s this part where the camera is running and he doesn’t realize it,” Perry said. “And that’s when he comes up with Bass Boat Bob.” 

Other poems are still simply about what it’s like to grow up with siblings, or simply being a kid. 

“All the trials and tribulations of growing up together but having a rivalry. Not getting along but needing each other,” he said.

Yet another layer of rivalry, the pair have another sibling, a brother, Chris, who they call out in each book’s introduction, calling him their ugly or smelly brother. 

“We did it because it’s something kids would do and that’s our whole brand,” VanHoutan said. “He’s always giving us a hard time about not being involved.”

With Perry adding, “It’s a running joke at this point. He’s in finance so we say, ‘We know you’re just trying to get into the racket.'”  

Since self-publishing the books, they’ve begun promoting locally with promotional items like stickers and coloring pages that feature the books’ illustrations. 

Their first event was in a bookstore in Topeka, where Perry lives. Another was hosted near VanHoutan’s home in Hoyt. Along with signing and reading books, visitors were served hot dogs to smother in their own favorite condiments. 

VanHoutan said fellow teachers have used the book as a lesson where they read a poem and had students provide the art of George, a gorilla. 

“A few students come in my office and want autographs,” she laughed. Now a Mom of two, ages 10 and 6, they also get in on the fun. “They think it’s so funny and want to be in all the poems. They have their own ideas too.” 

In addition to more poetry books, VanHoutan has completed a chapter book called Underwear Elementary, while Perry is working on art for the title. 

“He does such a good job; the illustrations are so fun,” she said. “We’re just really excited to keep going and smother everybody with poems.”