I am so very very very excited. My friends at Henry Holt have given me the thumbs up to share some spreads from Little Elliot, Big City, which is due to hit the shelves Fall 2014! Since we have over a YEAR to wait for that, I am going to give you a periodic sneak peek every few months!
Here is today’s featured spread!!! (click to enlarge)
He was shorter than most people and had to be extra careful not to be stepped on.
This was certainly one of the most complicated spreads in the book. It took a very long time, and a lot of research! It all started with this little thumbnail:
The book has a 1930s/40s feel, so I needed to do some research to see what the New York subway used to look like then. I visited the archives of The New York Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn for more information. They had photographs showing what the subway has looked like throughout its 109 year old existence. It was Christmas morning for the history nerd in me, although it was actually an afternoon…in February…in a basement. STILL! Excitement all around.
I had to handle the photographs with archival gloves. I was a full-fledged researcher!
I searched through the physical photos, while my lovely “assistant,” Julia, scoured MTA’s online image records.
So, after gathering all of my subway research and combining it with my period fashion research, I was able to make this composition:
Add shading, scan, color, and stir: e voila! One spread made to order!
Stay tuned for more sneak peeks to come.
When Mouse heads off to a family reunion, Little Elliot decides to go for a walk. As he explores each busy street, he sees families in all shapes and sizes. In a city of millions, Little Elliot feels very much alone–until he finds he has a family of his own!
mike curato 