Happy Book Birthday 

From worldwide bestselling author Max Brallier and co-author Joshua Pruett – in his GN debut – comes a full-color graphic novel spin-off series based on the #1 NYT, WSJ, and USA Today bestselling Last Kids on Earth!

(Viking Books for Young Readers)

Illustrated by Jay Cooper
& Douglas Holgate
Designed by Jim Hoover

The debut in a 4-book meta-fictional comic book MG adventure series from within the Last Kids on Earth universe …

Art by Douglas Holgate

Like Dog Man is to Captain Underpants, this is a leap off of the original series into brand-new territory, but still firmly planted in the Last Kids world.

The Last Comics on Earth
Official Book Trailer

Art by Douglas Holgate

Excerpts from cbr.com
 
“I’m incredibly excited to be expanding the world of The Last Kids on Earth – and to do it with something that’s very different from the main series, but still feels true to the characters and world,” Brallier said. “The Last Comics on Earth is a goofy, silly, action-packed graphic novel adventure – loaded with amazing art from Doug Holgate and Jay Cooper — and I hope kids have just as much fun reading it as Joshua and I had writing it.“

Art by Douglas Holgate

 
Pruett added, “Even before writing for the Netflix series, I was a fan of The Last Kids on Earth and the world and characters Max and Doug had brought to life … With the wild and wacky story Max and I put together, as realized by Doug and the force of nature that is fellow comics geek Jay Cooper, The Last Comics on Earth is jam-packed with outrageous adventure and big laughs for both new and die-hard Last Kids fans, realized in a way that only a ginormous, full color graphic novel could deliver!“

Art by Douglas Holgate

As featured in:

“What’s better than a middle grade graphic novel? A full-color middle grade graphic novel!”

Art by Douglas Holgate

Joshua Pruett is an Emmy Award winning writer best known for his work on Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Last Kids on Earth animated series, and the original feature for Disney Plus, Phineas and Ferb: The Movie: Candace Against the Universe. Josh has been a storyboard artist, writer and creative consultant for LEGO, Warner Animation Group, Pure Imagination Studios, Disney TV, DreamWorks Feature Animation, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks TV, Sprout/NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Feature Animation as well as co-author of Shipwreckers! The Curse of the Cursed Temple of Curses, Or We Nearly Died. A Lot, with Scott Peterson.

Happy Book Birthday

Illustrated by
Luciana Navarro Powell

Written by Christine Layton
(Tilbury House Publishing) 

A poetic, wonder-sparking approach to PB non-fiction …

#BookBirthday Interview excerpt:  

Q. What medium / process did you use in this gorgeous book?

LNP: I used a mixed media technique to try to capture visually the mood of what our editor Jonathan called “light mysterious messages.” I used acrylic paints with stencils, some watercolor washes, and the most fun of all, real light from sun rays!

To capture “real stars” I perforated a grocery bag and photographed a myriad of little stars projected on the other side, then manipulated it all on Photoshop.

What do you hope readers will take away from LIGHT SPEAKS?

I loved how Christine’s text approached a non-fiction concept with a poetic lens – so I hope that kids can pause and think that science can also contain an element of wonder and can be viewed differently than how we read it in textbooks.

Q. For author Christine Layton: What surprises did Luciana bring to the project?

CL: Wow! The illustrations add incredible layers to the book! I mean, there is an entire story told through Luciana’s illustrations that isn’t present in the text. Luciana brought fun, real characters, a theme of exploration, and a cohesive journey that continues across the pages. I have no idea how she makes each page practically glow as if the paper is infused with light! What could be more perfect for this book? I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to collaborate with Luciana, and I treasure our friendship that’s grown through this book.

(Full Book Birthday interview on erindealey.com )

An enchanting picture book about the joyful, mysterious, awe-inspiring messages of light, whether emanating from a firefly or the sun, fireworks or the Big Bang, boats at sea or a bolt of lightning, a movie projector or a rainbow.

Backmatter provides further adventures in the science of light. 
 

Luciana’s Illustrator Highlight

Luciana Navarro Powell has created art since childhood and became a full-time illustrator in 2001. She moved from watercolor and acrylic paints to the digital brush―loving the freedom and the possibilities of experimentation with textures―and then to mixed media, incorporating photographs and scanned objects with traditional techniques in a digital melting pot. The colors, vibrancy, and warmth of her native Brazil infuse her work with a sunny optimism, humor, and warm human-animal-landscape interactions. As an immigrant, she makes sure that kids can see themselves in her art.