Lil BUB's big dream comes true in just 15 hours

INDIANAPOLIS — Tiny pets of the world, unite!

Bloomington, Ind.-based Internet celebrity Lil BUB has teamed up with Norbert, a 3-pound puppy, for an illustrated children's book celebrating the little guys. And in just 15 hours, they exceeded their Kickstarter goal and raised more than $30,000 to make the dream book into a reality.

This was the first Kickstarter for Lil BUB, and her "dude" Mike Bridavsky wasn't sure what to expect. The fast fundraising was helped in part by a big $10,000 donation. Bridavsky doesn't know who that donor was, but that person will get a lot of perks, including their image in the book and at trip to Bloomington to meet Lil BUB and Norbert in the fur.

The Kickstarter funds will be used for creative development of the book, layout, editing, printing and other associated costs.

"We get asked to do a lot of partnerships," Bridavsky said. Lil BUB has a big audience, after all: She has more than 1.8 million fans on Facebook and another 720,000 followers on Instagram.

But when the mother-daughter illustrating and writing team of Virginia K. Freyermuth and Julie Freyermuth pitched partnering on a book, they weren't just interested in BUB's followers. They were already big fans. "That was one of the first things that made me consider it. I could tell they had been following BUB and her story," Bridavsky said.

The book will be the third in a series focusing on Norbert's adventures. Titled Norbert and Lil BUB: What Can Little We Do?, the children's book will see magical space cat BUB team up with the down-to-earth and skeptical Norbert.

"The cat is from space; the dog is a little dog who puts smiles on people's faces. And the fact that their two completely different styles came together in a book is the whole message. Despite our differences, we can work together and make something awesome and cohesive tougher," Bridavsky said. He will help co-write the book with Julie Freyermuth, with illustrations from Virginia.

The Kickstarter will accept donations through May 13. Since they reached their initial goal so quickly, the book team is working on putting together a "stretch goal." If they raise $100,000, they plan to donate books to schools across the country and make a bonus donation to Lil BUB's Big FUND for the ASPCA in addition to their original plans to donate $3 from each book. The fund, which helps special needs pets, has raised $200,000 over the last several years.

Lil BUB herself faces several genetic anomalies that give her that unique "perma-kitten" look and constantly protruding tongue. Those anomalies have presented some health challenges, but Bridavsky reports that BUB is doing better than ever. "In the last year and a half, she's been improving dramatically. She's spry; she's in a great mood."

Good job, BUB.