Two Pennington dads who teamed up to tackle one of parenting’s most universal challenges — picky eating — are celebrating the growing success of their humorous children’s book series Don’t Eat the Trash with a live reading and meet-and-greet this weekend.
Writing under the pen name Cubby Hollins, Paul Salvatoriello and Mark Fabbi have released two books in less than a year, blending playful storytelling and bright characters to encourage young readers to try new foods and build healthier habits. Since the first book launched in April 2025, the series has sold nearly 1,000 copies, with a companion coloring book now in development.
The authors will host a free community reading Saturday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. at Princeton Playspace.
A playful pen name with personal roots
The duo’s shared pen name carries a bit of childhood nostalgia. Fabbi said “Cubby” was the name of his childhood dog, while “Hollins” comes from the Philadelphia street where he grew up.
That mix of personal history and playful tone reflects the spirit the pair wanted for their books — approachable, family-centered, and a little silly.
Fabbi grew up in Philadelphia and Salvatoriello in Cranford. The couple lived in South Orange before moving to Pennington about a year ago, choosing Hopewell Valley for its location between extended family and its strong sense of an inclusive community.
From family humor to story idea
Fabbi said the concept grew out of exchanges with nieces and nephews, including one child on the autism spectrum who struggled with food.
“We were saying things like, ‘don’t eat the…’ and fill in the blank,” he said. “And we were like, why not try to make this into a book?”
The project also coincided with a major life moment: the birth of the couple’s daughter, Molly, in early 2025.
“It’s kind of like an ode to her as well,” Fabbi said.
Writing across continents
The expressive monster illustrations came from a Ukrainian artist the authors hired through freelance platforms — a collaboration shaped by the war in Ukraine.
“He’d be in his bomb shelter drawing the pictures for the book,” Fabbi said. “We would go days without hearing from him sometimes because of the war.”
A collaborative creative process
Fabbi said he and Salvatoriello develop the books together, with him rereading and proofreading drafts and helping guide promotion.
“I’ll reread it, proofread it and we kind of work together as a team,” he said.
Encouragement from families and professionals helped confirm they were onto something.
“We had a speech therapist reach out saying she had found success using the book,” Fabbi said, adding that some children were asking to hear it nightly.
That response led to a sequel later in 2025, with additional titles planned including a coloring book based on the series.
Building a local children’s author presence
Though both men maintain full-time careers, they are beginning to develop a local author presence through parent networks, libraries, and community spaces.
“We’re leaning into the area,” Fabbi said. “This is really our first public reading.”
The books are available online and the authors are also exploring local retail partnerships.
A playful story with an inclusive message
Despite the silly premise — a lovable monster tempted to eat non-food objects — Fabbi said the books aim to normalize differences in how children approach food.
“Even though the theme’s quirky and joking, it’s really about acceptance,” he said.
Community reading Saturday
The Princeton Playspace event will include a live reading, book signing, and meet-and-greet with the authors. Admission is free and open to families.
