Children’s Books
Maris Wicks kicks you outside with ‘Yes, Let’s’ picture book
There’s more to life than staying indoors. And while comics fans might be typecast as more of the shut-in type, there’s more to us than that — but even for the reclusive among us, this book’s for you.
Yes, Let’s is a new picture book, illustrated by Maris Wicks and written by Galen Goodwin Longstreth, that follows a family’s day trip into the woods where a sing-song-type rhyming dialogue complements the adventures they’re drawn into. Here’s an excerpt of some of the text:
Let’s get into the station wagon, roll those windows down,
Let’s sing out loud and wave to cows as we drive out of town.
Let’s park the car beneath the trees and trade our shoes for boots,
Let’s set the timer, all say “Cheese!” then head into the woods.
Although not comics in the traditional sense, it tells a story using words and pictures, and Wicks is herself a comics creator — and this makes a great read for a comics fan or just someone who wants something for the family. The book even gives you a list of things to bring for your next outdoor trek. Here are three double-page spreads from the book:
U.K. publisher Nobrow launches children’s books imprint
Nobrow, the most art- and design-obsessed of the new generation of U.K. graphic novel publishers, has started a new kids’ books imprint, Flying Eye Books, and its first crop of releases are as typically gorgeous as the parent company’s output. Nobrow favorite Ben Newman and animator Jambonbon have created an exceedingly cute animation to celebrate the new endeavor:
Neil Gaiman debuts Skottie Young’s cover for Fortunately, the Milk
Neil Gaiman has debuted Skottie Young’s cover for the U.S. edition of their upcoming children’s book Fortunately, the Milk. Officially announced in July as part of the author’s five-book deal with HarperCollins Children’s Books, it’s described as “an ode to the pleasure and wonders of storytelling itself.”
Dave McKean was at one point set to illustrate Fortunately, the Milk, which Gaiman referred to in 2011 as “a very silly children’s book” that “was meant to be about the length of The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish, but it’s actually about four or five times as long.”
Gaiman has published 13 novels and picture books through HarperCollins Children’s Books, including the Newbery-winning The Graveyard Book. Fortunately, the Milk is scheduled for release Sept. 17.