The Evolution of Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes Jacket



About the book

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is the utterly beguiling tale of a ten-year-old blind orphan who has been schooled in a life of thievery. One fateful afternoon, he steals a box from a mysterious traveling haberdasher—a box that contains three pairs of magical eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island where he is presented with a special quest: to travel to the dangerous Vanished Kingdom and rescue a people in need. Along with his loyal sidekick—a knight who has been turned into an unfortunate combination of horse and cat—and the magic eyes, he embarks on an unforgettable, swashbuckling adventure to discover his true destiny



After reading the first chapter of Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes I knew it was special.
It hooked me right away. For example.

Now, for those of you who know anything about blind children, you are aware that they make the very best thieves. As you can well imagine, blind children have incredible senses of smell, and they can tell what lies behind a locked door—be it fine cloth, gold, or peanut brittle—at fifty paces. Moreover, their fingers are small enough to slip right through keyholes, and their ears keen enough to detect the faintest clicks and clacks of every moving part inside even the most complicated lock. Of course, the age of great thievery has long since passed; today there are few child-thieves left, blind or otherwise. At one time, however, the world was simply thick with them. This is the story of the greatest thief who ever lived. His name, as you’ve probably guessed, is Peter Nimble.—JONATHAN AUXIER



First step hire an amazing illustrator that will bring something fresh to the project. His name Gilbert Ford! Gilbert and I had just finished the cover of Tom Angleberger's Horton Halfpott so I was well aware of his talents. While working on Horton, Gilbert punched out a bunch of ideas right on the first go around this time was no different. I had an idea working in my head but I wanted to see what Gilbert came up with first. No reason.



Below are Gilbert first round of sketches and his explanation behind each idea.



This has peter nimble blindfolded, representing blind, and a crown on his head. On each jewel shows one of the three different pairs of eyeballs. This represents the jeweled eyes in his crown that gives him power. It also alludes to him being a prince. The characters are Sir Tode, Simon, one of the apes, and Frederick the fish. At the bottom is the ship and the air balloon the cat and raven ride. The back cover would be done in a similar fashion to the front, making room for bar code and text.




This plays with the idea of turning the silhouette of the boy's eye into a die-cut. I was also thinking that the keyholes could be die cut. I thought that the two symbols of a lock and eyes could be used like they are linked together. On the back are the ravens, which turns to sky and sand and then the hot air balloon over the desert. Room for text in the white area. Not sure if the type should be treated differently.




The keyholes are literally his eyes (since they are holes, too, having no eyes) but also the holes represent both his talent and his weakness, and opening new doors- his fantastic eyes can take him places. In the decorations around the border are the literal eyeballs. I am wondering if they should just be gold so that you don't see that they are eyeballs immediately. I was thinking of just treating the boy in dark blues so that if you want to make the key holes into a die cut, it will show up.



The E's in peter are eyes. The silhouettes of the boy shows him looking and there is a color radiating out as if it takes him to another dimension.



I sat on these sketches for a week or so. I loved that I was being presented with so many thought out ideas. But at this phase of the process I was still hooked on another approach. Imagine a die-cut cover ( see example below) where the eye hole are cut out in perfect circles. Behind the die-cut on the endpapers we could see Peter Nimble's fantastic eyes. Still being stuck on this idea I had Gilbert work up a few sketches to see if this idea worked. I was sure it would.


But I was wrong. I had lead the design to much in the direction of a cool effect.

(Way to psychedelic)


Now we ran into the issue of where the type would go.
But still the idea of a die-cut was just not working with the design or the story. I was missing out on the fantastic setting an world of the story that needed to be shown on the cover so the read could be identify and hopefully be sucked into the world of the book as I was from the first paragraph.

Here is Gilbert's next sketch based on the idea of place. We have him in silhouette to show his blindness.


Now it was time to focus in on the type.

Yikes! This type looks to much like Herbie the Love Bug or Disney movies from the 60's

I wanted the type have florishes but not be to decorative and have a key hole element worked in. And some how all these ideas needed to form a logo for Peter Nimble. My hope was the type would be good enough to be used if for a movie version. Easy right? Here is what we came up with.


Now the subtitle needed some attention. Poor lonesome subtitle.


For the subtitle I thought it was important that it be hand drawn. Really for no particular reason other than it just felt right. Using a straight font just seemed to mechanical.

Close but no cigar. Too blocky.

Ahh just right! Only the stupid H needed to be capitalized. Oh copyediting. Sigh.




Some fine tuning still needed to be done on the cover image. Peter's pose was bugging us. He was to big, his burgal sack was also to large and he need to be positioned so his feet were grounded.

Various charcter sketches followed.



Final Full Jacket art


Final Jacket Layout

Spot Gloss layer





The last thing left to do is pic the color for the case. You want to try and match the colors of the jacket to the case. There are a few different was one can go. And for some reason the easiest part of book design always make me sweat a little. Did I pick the right colors?




Emerald green. Just right. To match Peter's Emerald Green Fantastic Eyes.

Endpapers




Half title page

Title Page


Contents page


Chapter opening pages


To Market, To Market Nikki McClure visits NYC Farmer's Markets



Nikki McClure took a rare East Coast trip recently to visit New York's local Farmer's Markets. This was the first time I was meeting Nikki. We have worked on three books together ( All in A Day, Mama Is It Summer Yet?, and To Market, To Market) and spent hours on the phone coming over all sorts of things. So I was excited to finally meet her and thank her for the honey she sent me while working on To Market, To Market to help with my cold. It was the day before Labor Day weekend and I needed to release the final files to the printer for proofs. Only I had a horrible cold, which I later found out was strep throat. No biggie. A hero you say for coming into the office sick . . . I think not. The real hero was Nikki's Honey which saved my throat from certain destruction. Honey which I am sure she picked up at her local farmers market. It was amazing!




Prospect Parks Farmer's Market


Susan Van Metre's very well behaved dog Mugs stopped by and had a drink of water


"One of my favorite things about life in New York City is the bounty of local farmer’s markets. Whether it’s the massive Greenmarket in Union Square or a neighborhood farmstand, buying local and fresh is the motto these days and the farmer’s markets that have popped up across the country serve as evidence." —Alison Gervais, senior production manager at ABRAMS






About the book

Known for art that celebrates the virtues of community, hard work, and living gently on the planet, Nikki McClure here explores a topic close to her heart: the farmers market. Alternating between story and fact, this lovingly crafted picture book follows a mother and son to the weekly market. As they check off items on their shopping list, the reader learns how each particular food was grown or produced, from its earliest stages to how it ended up at the market. To Market, to Market is a timely book that shines awareness on the skill that goes into making good food.


About the author

Nikki McClure is a self-taught artist who has been making paper-cuts since 1996. She is the author and illustrator of Collect Raindrops and Mama, Is It Summer Yet? and the illustrator of All in a Day, by Cynthia Rylant, which won the Pacific Northwest Bookseller's award. She visits her farmers market in Olympia, Washington, every week. Visit her online at www.nikkimcclure.com.





Nikki demonstrates how she cuts her art.





Susan Van Metre and Mugs at the Prospect Park Farmers Market





After the signing and cutting at the Farmers Market came to an end.
We enjoyed a meal of treats from the market courtesy of Susan's husband Pete.




New Orleans, My first ALA


ALA in NEW ORLEANS


Usually I don't attend the ALA conference but this year I made and exception. How could I pass up seeing Margi Preus accept her Newbery Honor for Heart of a Samurai and on top of that it was in New Orleans which I had never been too. I obviously I could not.



Alex Beard's studios on Royal Street


Dan Santat enjoys time with the King.

Laura Mihalick works the booth


Orgaimi Yoda's Tom Angleberger opened up a back house for Wimpy Kid's Jeff Kinney


Mathew Cordell and his adorable daughter who is trying on my specs.



Horn Books Roger Sutton lends a helping hand at the ABRAMS booth


Jason Wells giving out swag for one of my favorite books of the year PETER NIMBLE and His Fantastic Eyes


Author Jonathan Auxier can't believe he is signing his first galley of Peter Nimble.



Tom Angleberger made his own Darth Paper shirt!



Erica Perl

John Hendrix


Auxier speaks over a fine meal to a room of eager Librarians

Margi Preus


Drinks at the Napoleon House in the French Quarter are a must for anybody visiting New Orleans for the first time. "Few places capture the essence of New Orleans like the Napoleon House: A 200 year old landmark that's as casual and unique as its French Quarter surroundings." Sitting there enjoying my Pimm's cup after a long day at the ABRAMS booth you could imagine drinking side by side with Indiana Jones who was just about too get in to a fight over an ancient relic which would lead to the bar being burnt to a crisp




Newbery & Caldecott awards dinner



Jonathan Auxier is still excited or his jaw is locked open.

Jonathan Auxier, William Joyce and Tamar Brazis


ABRAMS Table

Margi Preus accepts her Newbery Honor for Heart of a Samurai

Abrams Books For Young Readers Fall 2011 Preview




Authors: By Laurent de Brunhoff

Authors: By Molly Shannon, illustrated by Ard Hoyt




Authors: By Boni Ashburn, illustrated by Julia Denos





Marshall Armstrong Is
New to Our School
Authors: By David Mackintosh



Authors: By Lee Bennett Hopkins, Illustrated by Marcellus Hall



Authors: By Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Illustrated by Ryan Wood


Authors: By Fiona Robinson


Authors: By Esmé Raji Codell, Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas


Authors: By Mordicai Gerstein


Authors: By Katie Kirk



Miles to Go for Freedom
Segregation and Civil Rights in the Jim Crow Years
By Linda Barrett Osborne, in association with the Library of Congress


Authors: By Graeme Base


Authors: By Julia Pimsleur Levine
Authors: By Alex Beard





BREAKING NEWS! DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: CABIN FEVER

Hold on Tight, this Winter has Bite


USA TODAY, the #1 paper in the country with a 1.8 million circulation,

broke the news this morning that

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: CABIN FEVER

the sixth book in the game-changing series by Jeff Kinney,

will go on sale November 15, 2011, with a 6-million copy first printing—the largest to date!

They are also the first to run the cover, which will be “ice blue.”

Please see the full press release attached and below. We expect all major daily trades to follow today and tomorrow.


FIRST PRINTING OF MORE THAN 6 MILLION COPIES OF

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: CABIN FEVER,

BOOK 6 IN THE #1 BESTSELLING SERIES BY JEFF KINNEY,

FROM AMULET BOOKS

NATIONAL LAYDOWN IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

SUMMER “SNOWBALL” EVENTS WILL THRILL AND CHILL FANS



New York, NY, June 16, 2011—Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS, revealed today in a major press announcement the title, first-printing quantity, and cover of the sixth Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. CABIN FEVER will have the largest first printing of any title in the series to date, with more than 6 million copies, making it the largest print publishing release of 2011 when it goes on sale Tuesday,

November 15. The cover color is ice blue, which complements the red, blue, green, yellow, and purple of the first five #1 bestselling books. Cabin Fever follows the sales and publicity momentum of the

March 2011 release of the #1 bestseller the Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book, a journal filled with interactive pages and space for readers to record their own stories. In Cabin Fever, the Heffley family is stuck indoors during a blizzard. But will they weather the storm?

“A very tough New England winter inspired me to snow the Heffley family in for the holidays,” said Jeff Kinney. “‘Cabin fever’ refers to the claustrophobia Greg feels, as well as the broader theme of the book. . . that you're trapped by the identity you create for yourself.”

Six summer “snowball” events will be announced in July. Featuring the oversized Wimpy Kid Snow Globe that premiered at BookExpo in New York in May, and much more, the events will thrill fans with treats and special book previews. The wide reach of the release of the title will continue in August as kits with branded materials are mailed to booksellers and librarians to help build awareness and excitement.

“This is clearly the most anticipated book of 2011, with the largest initial print run,” said Michael Jacobs, President and CEO of Abrams. Jeff Kinney’s millions of fans are eager with anticipation, and the release of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever will be an elating experience for them. We’re thrilled to bring millions of kids—and their parents, caregivers, librarians, teachers, and friends—the book this fall, and believe that our laydown of Cabin Fever will help make this holiday season a great one for booksellers. Our pre-sales and marketing campaign over the next few months will help build that excitement and anticipation for our laydown of Jeff’s next number-one bestseller.”

Books in the core Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney include Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2008), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (2009), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2009), and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth (2010). Jeff Kinney has also written and illustrated The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book and The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary. The series is a fixture on the USA Today bestseller list (the first book in the series has remained in the top 150 for more than 200 weeks) and the Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. It has also remained consistently in the top spots on the New York Times lists since publication of the first book in the series.

More than 50 million Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are in print in the United States and Canada. The books have been sold in more than 36 countries in 35 languages around the world. Published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS, Kinney’s work has been widely praised for its ability to turn reluctant readers onto books. Jeff Kinney was named one of TIME magazine’s most influential people in the world. The first movie based on the books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, grossed more than $75 million worldwide in box office sales, and the second movie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, was the #1 movie at the box office in its opening weekend in theaters. The book series won Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in 2010 and 2011, and Jeff Kinney was nominated for a Children’s Choice Book Award in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Books in the series have won numerous awards voted on by students and teachers in schools around the globe. In March 2011, the first-ever Wimpy Kid Island, Wimpy Wonderland, debuted on www.poptropica.com.

# # #

For more information, interviews, or images, please contact:

Jason M. Wells

Executive Director, Publicity and Marketing

Abrams Books for Young Readers/Amulet Books


GUYS READ panel at BOOK EXPO



"Weren't at the Javits Center in NYC for BEA? Don't worry, the Internet is here. BookExpo just uploaded a video of the whole shebang. Hang with Jon Scieszka, Jack Gantos, Mac Barnett, Matt de la Peña, Eoin Colfer and some weirdo in a red pleather Thriller costume as they talk about Guys Read and the Guys Read Library anthologies."—Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Lilly Look Here



My friends Shannon and Patrick Strange made a short film. Here is the teaser trailer. Enjoy!

Amulet Books Fall 2011 Preview





First Cover sketch for Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes
by Gilbert Ford

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is the utterly beguiling tale of a ten-year-old blind orphan who has been schooled in a life of thievery. One fateful afternoon, he steals a box from a mysterious traveling haberdasher—a box that contains three pairs of magical eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island where he is presented with a special quest: to travel to the dangerous Vanished Kingdom and rescue a people in need. Along with his loyal sidekick—a knight who has been turned into an unfortunate combination of horse and cat—and the magic eyes, he embarks on an unforgettable, swashbuckling adventure to discover his true destiny.



1st Origami Darth Vader by Tom Angleberger



About the book
It is a dark time at Ralph McQuarrie Middle School. After suffering several Origami Yoda–related humiliations, Harvey manages to get Dwight suspended from school for being a “troublemaker.” Origami Yoda pleads with Tommy and Kellen to save Dwight by making a new case file—one that will show how Dwight’s presence benefits McQuarrie. With the help of their friends, Tommy and Kellen record cases such as “Origami Yoda and the Pre-eaten Wiener,” “Origami Yoda and the Exploding Pizza Bagels,” and “Origami Yoda and Wonderland: The Musical.” But Harvey and his Darth Paper puppet have a secret plan that could make Dwight’s suspension permanent . . .
With his proven knack for humorously exploring the intrigues, fads, and dramas of middle school, Tom Angleberger has crafted a worthy sequel to his breakout bestseller.


Jacket character sketches
by Ethen Beavers



About the book
Matilda “Wheezer” Choi, the asthmatic who can fly and kick butt courtesy of her nanobyte-enhanced inhalers, loves pro wrestling and hates anything “girlie.” Maybe that’s because she grew up with six brothers—or maybe it’s because her home life has become a battle zone in the conflict between her parents. Unfortunately for Wheezer, when a former member of NERDS turned villain gets extensive plastic surgery in order to become a cheerleader, Matilda must swallow her pride to successfully infiltrate the squad.
The newest supervillain, Gerdie Baker, assisted by the criminal mastermind Simon, has created a device that opens portals to other worlds, which she and the other cheerleaders have been pillaging. But the alternate realities are starting to get awfully close together, so it’s up to Wheezer and the NERDS to stop the cheerleaders before the worlds collide.



Redesigned cover for Lauren Myracle's Flower Power series
Art and design by Maria Middleton



Reel Life Starring Us
by Lisa Greenwald
Photography by Jonathan Beckerman


About the book
Rockwood Hills Junior High is known for the close-knit cliques that rule the school. When arty new girl Dina gets the opportunity to do a video project with queen bee Chelsea, she thinks this is her ticket to a great new social life. But Chelsea has bigger problems than Dina can imagine: her father has lost his job, and her family is teetering on the brink. Without knowing it, Dina might just get caught in Chelsea’s free fall.
Filled with honest truths about status and self-confidence, as well as the bubbly, infectious voice Lisa Greenwald mastered in her breakout, My Life in Pink & Green, this book is sure to charm tween readers everywhere.

Redesigned Paperback cover
Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes



About the book
Jael has always felt like a freak. She’s never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad’s always been superstrict—but that’s probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family’s dangerous history and Jael’s untapped potential. What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side in order to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best-friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths.
Author Jon Skovron takes on the dark side of human nature with his signature funny, heartfelt prose.
Redesigned Paperback cover
Struts & Frets
Hand lettering by Meagan Bennett


The Popularity Papers 3
Book Three: Words of (Questionable) Wisdom from Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang

Designed by Melissa Arnst Art by Amy Ignatow

Redesigned Paperback cover
Island of the Unknowns

Art and design by Maria Middleton

Redesigned Paperback cover
Photos by Geoff Spear

About the book
Designed like a case file, chock-full of notes, journal entries, letters, e-mails, illustrations, and more, Free Thaddeus! is an uproarious middle-grade novel that argues why the irreverent Thaddeus should be released from his in-school suspension and explains the unbelievable circumstances that led to his punishment. Soon readers will be chanting, “Free Thaddeus!”

The Storyteller


About the book
Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?
Award-winning author Antonia Michaelis moves in a bold new direction with her latest novel: a dark, haunting, contemporary story that is part mystery, part romance, and part melodrama.

Deviant


The Phantom Limb

Cover Sketches and Final by Yuta Onada

The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book
(revised and expanded edition)


Coming Soon! Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6

Office hilarity!


Office hilarity!, originally uploaded by chadwbecks.

BEA is coming!

Evolution of LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE cover






I had a bad August.
A very bad August.
As bad as pickle juice on a cookie.
As bad as a spider web on your leg.
As bad as the black parts on a banana.
I hope your August was better.
I really do.

When Eleanor's beloved babysitter, Bibi, has to move away to take care of her ailing father, Eleanor must try to bear the summer without Bibi and prepare for the upcoming school year. Her new, less-than-perfect babysitter just isn't up to snuff, and she doesn't take care of things like Bibi used to. But as the school year looms, it's time for new beginnings. Eleanor soon realizes that she will always have Bibi, no matter how far away she is.

Written in a lyrical style with thoughtful and charming illustrations throughout by Matthew Cordell.


Here are a few of Matthew Cordell's first round sketches.





As you might have guessed the title wasn't working for us.
It worked for the story but was just to "quiet."


A list of new possible title was drawn up.


A Letter from Bibi

Waiting for Bibi (she is waiting for the letter after all)

Missing Bibi

Bibi and Me and Our Very Bad August

A Letter from My Bibi

My Life Without My Bibi

Where Old Babysitters Go to Retire
when they Get Sick of Brats, and Why

Kids and the Babysitters that Leave Them

Dealing with an Absent Babysitter

Home Alone

and finally

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie

Pickle Juice on a Cookie was just odd enough to be enticing. I love it!

Our designer Melissa Arnst rang up Matthew to tell him the new title news.

He then began sketching.



Yet still nothing was clicking.



Melissa start working up other ideas with Matthew's interior art. Our goal was to up the cuteness factor as well as remaining true to the story. Yet this cover seemed to close to another book design. So we took another look.

We combed through the interior art looking for answers. I was sure they were there somewhere.





We replayed the title over and over in our heads. Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie was so attention getting we needed an image that would be able to hold its own.





Closer. But still to quiet
Too much scenery.

The answer presented its self on a very small illustration hiding out on the title page art.




Melissa and I then combined her previous sketch with the pickle jar idea and KABLAM!
We had ourselves a sweet cover idea!

Next step: Add type and tweak. (Like many other covers on both the Abrams Books for Young Readers and Amulet Books imprints we asked Matthew for to hand draw the type on the cover. I feel it gives a cover that extra push to being unique. Plus it helps the art and the type look like the belong together.)


Matthews final inked art



Now with color!



And the final!



Front Jacket


Back Jacket



Julie Sternberg, formerly a public-interest lawyer, is a graduate of the New School's MFA program in writing for children. This is her first novel. She lives in Brooklyn. Matthew Cordell is the illustrator of Trouble Gum. He lives in Chicago.



Here is a sneak peek a Julie and Matt's next book

On sale SPRING 2013!!







Praise for Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie
“Eleanor’s ingenuous free-verse monologue should strike a chord with readers, especially those who may have had to cope with the loss of a loved one. Cordell’s halftone cartoons convey the story’s pathos and humor, as well as Eleanor’s changeable moods.” –Publishers Weekly

“Cordell’s winsome cartoon drawings complement the text without overcrowding the verse. It tells a simple, poignant story that will resonate with any child who has ever had to say good-bye.” –Booklist

“This first novel is a promising debut. Eleanor’s concerns, not only about her babysitter, but also about playmates, friends and a new school year will be familiar to readers, who will look forward to hearing more about her life.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Sternberg hits all the right notes here, capturing a sensitive kid’s first experience of loss with tender respectfulness and full acknowledgment that separation is a bereavement too. Sprightly line drawings, with the same perky homeyness as the story, add visual energy.” –Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Heartfelt, accessible, and energetic…” –Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"This heartwarming novel and its winsome cartoon-like illustrations draw readers right into the story. Children would enjoy this short chapter book as an independent read, but it would also be a particularly good choice for parents to read to or with their children." –BookPage
Authors: By Julie Sternberg, illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Imprint: Amulet Books
ISBN: 0-8109-8424-5
EAN: 9780810984240
Availability: In Stock
Publishing Date: 3/1/2011
Trim Size: 5 1/2 x 7 1/2
Page Count: 128
Cover: Hardcover with jacket
Illustrations: 50 B&W illustrations





Be sure to follow @abramskids on Twitter and Instagram!

Evolution of the SIDEKICKS Jacket


About SIDEKICKS by Jack D. Ferraiolo
Batman has Robin, Wonder Woman has Wonder Girl, and Phantom Justice has Bright Boy, a.k.a. Scott Hutchinson, an ordinary schoolkid by day and a superfast, superstrong sidekick by night, fighting loyally next to his hero.

But after an embarrassing incident involving his too-tight spandex costume, plus some signs that Phantom Justice may not be the good guy he pretends to be, Scott begins to question his role. With the help of a fellow sidekick, once his nemesis, Scott must decide if growing up means being loyal or stepping boldly to the center of things.



Sidekicks, here is a project that I thought would be easy. After all its comics related and I spent a good portion of my high school career face down in them (nerd!). So this should be a no brainer! Wrong. The problem turned out to be I was thinking to much. Stupid me. Here is a little tale of the Sidekicks cover.

After seeing Kick-Ass I really wanted this book to have a similar design approach. If not just totally ripping off the branding. Horrible to admit but true. My admiration would be followed soon with problems.


Only difference we didn't have actors so I enlisted Greg Horn to start work on sketches of our hero. Greg had just finished work on Jack's other book The Big Splash which was now in paperback. ( For more on the evolution of The Big Splash in hard cover by Nathan Fox click here)


Below are the samples of Greg's work that won me over.


In Greg's first sketches we wanted to show a close up like the Kick-Ass posters but show be able to show the idea of puberty which our characters are battling through out the story.

With more detail . . .
. . . angrier . . . more braces!

A quick type sample for a sales meeting


After several meeting we were approved to go to final.

However, something was working. Was the Kick-Ass idea not translating? Yep! Just goes to show you when something works it might not work again in another context.

In a desperate attempt to save Greg Horn's fantastic painting. I started playing around with out compositions and type placements. As you can see the type is very rough. At this stage I will place rough type in to just get a since of composition. Later I will go in a finalize the look of the type.


A comment kept coming up that seeing the both Sidekicks was desired. But now what was this cover about? There seemed to be to much going on.


I moved the character in black (Monkeywrench) to the back cover and concentrated on making the cover work with just Bright Boy. The idea here is secret identity revealed.



But turns out this idea was also to busy. Even though I was really into the type layout.

Here are simpler composition, yet none really say anything about the book


Galley cover design



At this point we decide to start from scratch and enlist our old friend Joshua Middleton ( who illustrated the Jacket of the Unknowns) for help. Our new approach was how to show that he was a sidekick. Joshua immediately sent us sketches.

In the hero's shadow.



This approach like everything before was to conceptual. And in the end we just wanted a cover that was action packed. Like I do on many covers I wanted the type to be part of the illustration.

I asked Josh to have Bright Boy kicking the type. These are his takes on that suggestion.


Nice, but too much crotch.




Like every good superhero you need good branding. What to do with a lightning bolt symbol that Shazam and the Flash won't send there crack pot team of copyright layers after us. below is what we came up with



At this point we started going back to the idea of both Sidekicks on the cover. After all the title is SIDEKICKS plural.


Still to0 much crotch!


Now with less crotch!


Here is Joshua's color sketch
At this stage everything is coming together. Except the type.



Better but missing the author's name Do'h!


Full jacket design


Spot Gloss layer ( all the areas in black are gloss)



Case design



About the book
Batman has Robin, Wonder Woman has Wonder Girl, and Phantom Justice has Bright Boy, a.k.a. Scott Hutchinson, an ordinary schoolkid by day and a superfast, superstrong sidekick by night, fighting loyally next to his hero.

But after an embarrassing incident involving his too-tight spandex costume, plus some signs that Phantom Justice may not be the good guy he pretends to be, Scott begins to question his role. With the help of a fellow sidekick, once his nemesis, Scott must decide if growing up means being loyal or stepping boldly to the center of things.

Praise for Sidekicks
*STARRED REIVEW*
“Scott’s present-tense narration keeps pedal to the metal from start to finish, and readers will be quickly won over as the two super-strong, super-fast, super-likable protagonists face both inner conflicts and a Dark Knight–ish villain as deeply psychotic and scary as he is super powerful. Look for more twists than a pretzel factory and a possible sequel.” –Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*STARRED REVIEW*
“A delightfully clever take on superheroes with this unpredictable adventure. Engaging territory as Ferraiolo reveals the story’s true depths.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review

“An exciting, lightning-paced superhero plot that is also a thoughtful examination of superheroism.”
–The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Ferraiolo starts the cape-flying action right from the opening pages. Ferraiolo is delightfully unafraid to inject irreverence into the superhero formula, adding plenty of humor to the high adventure high jinks.”
–Booklist

About the author
Jack D. Ferraiolo is the author of The Big Splash. He grew up in southern Connecticut and lives in northern Massachusetts. As the head of development at a children’s animation production company, he has developed and writes for WordGirl on PBS, for which he won an Emmy. Visit him online at www.jackferraiolo.com.


Authors: By Jack D. Ferraiolo
Imprint: Amulet Books
ISBN: 0-8109-9803-3
EAN: 9780810998032
Availability: In Stock
Publishing Date: 5/1/2011
Trim Size: 5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Page Count: 320
Cover: Hardcover with jacket