TOON BOOKS: Behind the Book “The TOON Graphics” With Head of Production Sa

TOON BOOKS: Behind the Book

“The TOON Graphics”

With Head of Production Sasha Steinberg

This fall, we debuted our new line of literary comics for ages 8 and up, the TOON Graphics. These books are some of the absolute best, and edgiest, that we’ve ever produced. They represent the kind of art and writing that inspired me to read, write, and make books when I was a kid.

In the months since releasing the books, as I move quickly between the titles and their images (for social media, flyers, etc.), I’ve noticed a dramatic theme that ties all three of these very different books together….the Labyrinth!

InCast Away on the Letter A (A Philemon Adventure), Phil, the hero, winds his way through a labyrinthine fantastical world as he tries to find his way home. At the end of his adventure, he even wanders into a literal maze.

InTheseus and the Minotaur, based on the famous Greek myth, Theseus escapes the labyrinth to end all labyrinths–the home of the fearsome Minotaur.

InHansel & Gretel, the two children get lost in the woods and (led by Gretel) succeed in escaping a witches grasp. In Lorenzo Mattotti’s fabulous drawings, the trees themselves become twisting and haunting, like walls of a forest maze.

These are all great stories, and the use of a maze/labyrinth adds a measure of drama and visual excitement that appeals to readers of all ages.

But is there something about young adults that allows them to connect to the idea of a labyrinth in a unique way?

Maybe it has to do with the complexities of life outside of home, which kids ages 8 and older really start to be aware of…the fear of getting lost, of being alone, and the joy of finding your own way.

At their hearts, in other words, labyrinths could be metaphors for venturing away from home for the first time; and these stories of escape using ingenuity, relationships, and bravery give us hope that we, too, can find a path out of adversity. No wonder these stories are so appealing to the age group!

These books encourage young people to be confident, clever, and independent. They are perfect gifts young readers, the kind that they will always remember.

But, for that matter, it’s a lesson and a story that adults and teenagers can relate to as well. The older I get, the more clearly I see that the world is not always designed to be easy. Sometimes, it truly feels like it has been designed to confuse! In that sense, these books really speak to me as well, giving me hope (through a bit of fabulous fantasy) that I can find my way through any maze–through darkness, through twists and turns, until I find my way home…