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.
6 Comments on The Evolution of Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes Jacket, last added: 8/11/2011
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By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 7/22/2011
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: farmers market, Nikki McClure, Amulet Books design, Add a tag
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
By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 5/19/2011
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: amulet, Amulet Books design, Add a tag
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 hab
2 Comments on Amulet Books Fall 2011 Preview, last added: 5/20/2011
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By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 4/19/2011
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: evolution, Chad W. Beckerman, Sidekicks, Jack Ferraiolo, Amulet Books design, cheese touch, Jacket and Case, Add a tag
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.
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 of the branding. Horrible to admit but true. My admiration would be followed soon with problems.
After seeing Kick-Ass I really wanted this book to have a similar design approach. If not just totally ripping of 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.
1 Comments on Evolution of the SIDEKICKS Jacket, last added: 4/20/2011
By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 10/4/2010
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Balloon, Jeff Kinney, Chad W. Beckerman, white, ABRAMS, Amulet Books design, Charlie Kochman, cheese touch, Macy's Thanksgiving Day, Add a tag
Earlier this summer Jeff Kinney and his trusted team ( Charles Kochman, Jason Wells and myself ) took a trip to the Macy's Studios just over the Hudson river in New Jersey. Here they make all the floats and balloons that are seen in the parade Thanksgiving morning. It was like visiting Santa's workshop.
Jeff Kinney and team arrive at the Macy's Studio in New Jersey
Who knew the balloons started out as clay sculptures?
This was the first time Jeff was seeing his creation, Greg Heffley in 3D
Who knew the balloons started out as clay sculptures?This was the first time Jeff was seeing his creation, Greg Heffley in 3D
1 Comments on MORE PHOTOS WIMPY KID MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY BALLOON, last added: 10/5/2010
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By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 6/22/2010
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: illustrations, amulet, mask, ABRAMS, Amulet Books, Amulet Books design, Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies, Dan Santat, cheese touch, Add a tag
Listen up ya knuckleheads! Here's your chance to look like a real life space bunny!
Mask by DAN SANTAT
Other Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies blog enteries
1. Cover Evolution
2. Interior Sneak Peak
Mask by DAN SANTAT
Other Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies blog enteries
1. Cover Evolution
2. Interior Sneak Peak
1 Comments on ATTACK OF THE FLUFFY BUNNIES offical Mask!, last added: 6/22/2010
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By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 6/11/2010
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: bunny, evolution, book covers, ABRAMS, Amulet Books, Amulet Books design, Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies, Dan Santat, Add a tag
One day a year he is Santa Claus, but the other 364 days Dan Santat works as a children's book writer and commercial illustrator. He is also the creator of Disney's animated hit, "The Replacements"
Dan graduated with honors from the Art Center, College of Design.
He lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, a cat, a bird, and one rabbit
For some time I had been looking for a project that would be just right for Dan's sensibilities. Crazy giant rabbits from outer space fit that bill.
From the beginning our ideas for the direction of the cover were in sync, vintage monster movie posters! Here are some that we looked at.
7 Comments on The Evolution of the Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies Cover, last added: 6/12/2010
By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 6/1/2010
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: illustrator, illustrations, Andrea Beaty, Chad W. Beckerman, Amulet Books, Interiors, Amulet Books design, Young Adult Book design, Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies, Dan Santat, Add a tag
A Sneak Peak at the art of ATTACK OF THE FLUFFY BUNNIES
(even though Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies is in-stores as of Mid-May)
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4 Comments on Art Preview! Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies, last added: 6/3/2010
By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 1/7/2010
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Tom Angleberger, School, Star Wars, ABRAMS, Amulet Books, Amulet Books design, Add a tag
THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA
With every galley given out Tom Angleberger author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda has made a Origami Yoda for each book. I forsee big things for this 'strange' book.
About the book
In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwight’s classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, he assembles the case file that forms this novel.
About the author
Applying for a job as a newspaper artist, Tom Angleberger was mistakenly assigned to cover local government meetings. Fifteen years and countless town council meetings later, he is still writing instead of drawing, currently as a columnist for the Roanoke Times in Roanoke, Virginia. He began work on his first book while in middle school. Tom is married to author-illustrator Cece Bell. They live in Christianburg, Virginia.
Authors: By Tom Angleberger
Imprint: Amulet Books
ISBN: 0-8109-8425-3
EAN: 9780810984257
Availability: Prepublication
Publishing Date: 4/1/2010
Trim Size: 5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Page Count: 160
Cover: Hardcover
Imprint: Amulet Books
ISBN: 0-8109-8425-3
EAN: 9780810984257
Availability: Prepublication
Publishing Date: 4/1/2010
Trim Size: 5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Page Count: 160
Cover: Hardcover
Illustrations: Through out
1 Comments on The Strange Case of Origami Yoda—Sneak Peak, last added: 1/7/2010
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By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 11/25/2009
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book covers, Best Books, ABRAMS, Nikki McClure, Amulet Books design, BYR, Amazon 2009, Add a tag
Best Book Covers of 2009
Click Image to go to AMAZON's Voting pageI just found out that ALL IN A DAY was nominated as one of the best covers of 2009
VOTE for it ! Please . . .
It's in the Children's Section of course.
Thanks!
VOTE for it ! Please . . .
It's in the Children's Section of course.
Thanks!
Yes, we know everyone's always told you: "Don't judge a book by its cover." But now's your chance: go ahead and judge. It's okay.A post from the past. A Nikki McClure interview
http://cwdesigner.blogspot.com/2009/02/nikki-mcclure-interview-1.html
http://cwdesigner.blogspot.com/2009/02/nikki-mcclure-interview-1.html
FANTASTIC NEWS
ALL IN A DAY
by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Nikki McClure
(Abrams Books for Young Readers; ISBN 9780810983212; March 2009)
is shortlisted for the 2010 PNBA Book Awards, which will be announced
in early January!!!
“This lovely book illuminates all the possibilities a day offers—the opportunities and chances that won't ever come again—and also delivers a gentle message of good stewardship of our planet. Newbery Medal winner Cynthia Rylant's poetic text, alongside Nikki McClure's stunning, meticulously crafted cut-paper art, makes this picture book not only timeless but appealing to all ages, from one to one hundred.”
Click on the link for more information and the full list:
http://www.pnba.org/AwardShortlist2010.htm
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By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 9/9/2009
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Meanwhile, Dotty, bulletin board, Amulet Books design, Jellybeans and the Big Book Bonanza, Mama Is It Summer Yet? and On a Windy Night, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Newspaper Ad, Because I am Your Daddy, Add a tag
This month bulletin board features Because I am Your Daddy the follow-up to Because You Are My Baby, cover sketches for DOTTY, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Newspaper Ad, Jellybeans and the Big Book Bonanza, Meanwhile, Mama Is It Summer Yet? and On a Windy Night.
5 Comments on Scenes from my Bulletin Board•September, last added: 9/9/2009
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By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 8/12/2009
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Michael Buckley, Chad W. Beckerman, Amulet Books, NERDS, Amulet Books design, Add a tag
Jacket and Case covers
2 Comments on NERDS! BOOKS ARE IN!, last added: 8/12/2009
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By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 5/31/2009
Blog: Mishaps and Adventures (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Process, Joshua Middleton Evolution, The Unknowns, Benedict Carey, Amulet Books design, Add a tag
About the book, THE UNKNOWNS.
In a trailer park called Adjacent, next to the Folsom Energy Plant, people have started to vanish, and no one seems to care. At first Lady Di and her best friend, Tom Jones, barely notice the disappearances—until their beloved math tutor, Mrs. Clarke, is abducted, too. Mrs. Clarke has left them clues in the form of math equations that lead them all over the trailer park, through hidden tunnels under “Mount Trashmore,” and into the Folsom Energy Plant itself, where Lady Di and Tom Jones and a gang of other misfits uncover the sordid truth about what’s really happening there.
Benedict Sketches from 1st pass Manuscript.
Sketch I mad before book was acquired to help acquire the book.
I had been a fan of Joshua Middleton's work for sometime and as luck would have it he was perfect for this unknown. Here is Josh's first sketch showing a wraparound jacket.
Only one problem. As beautiful as the image was when you separated out just the front cover. It didn't hold up. So in hopes of saving the image I reworked the composition. So that the front cover would work more effectively with the wraparound idea.
To make the cover have a bit of a science fiction mystery edge I took Benedict geometric sketches from the interior and add them floating on the jacket to add another layer of visual interest.
To make the cover have a bit of a science fiction mystery edge I took Benedict geometric sketches from the interior and add them floating on the jacket to add another layer of visual interest.
After a couple of revisions Josh delivered a color final.
But the colors where to vibrant which lessened the mystery angle of the image.Thus darken the composition to help highlight the key action to help the viewer.
Next step I started working up type samples. All along keeping in mind how do
you make a math story visually interesting. Also at this stage the title changed from FOLSOM ADJACENT to THE UNKNOWNS.
you make a math story visually interesting. Also at this stage the title changed from FOLSOM ADJACENT to THE UNKNOWNS.
However we ran into a speed bum. The cover wasn't working as well as it needed to for the book. Again the mystery angle. With the current cover it wasn't working as we wanted it to. The cover was to character driven for what the story was asking for. So we quickly went back to the drawing board and re worked the idea. Here you my sketch revision. Which is totally not a Jame Bond influence . . . uh yes it is.
On last thing just to make sure the mystery angle was working. Marketing placed the text " A Mystery" on the cover. Which turned out nicely.
Next and final step place the cover copy in place. I like to place text in a way that fits into the world of the art. Complementing rather than intruding.
Bonus Math Problem!
4 Comments on The Evolution of The Unknowns cover, last added: 6/15/2009
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GORGEOUS!! And that case is amazing as well with the green on green.
What a beautiful book! It looks awesome, thank you for sharing the process!
Dang, you guys really went ALL OUT here! Looks awesome.
I am drooling over your type!!!! this is simply exquisite design! ;)
love it!
Thank you for taking the time to assemble and post such an informative blog post. The book looks amazing and obviously worth all the extra effort that was taken.
Simply gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.