Looking for a last-minute babysitter? Sometimes the best solutions fly right out of the sky.
Award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Stephen Savage brings his current book tour to two bookstores in North Jersey on Saturday, March 16. He starts out the day with an 11:00 a.m. reading at Maplewood’s beloved [words] bookstore and then jets over to Indigo Short Hills at 1:00 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public and Savage will be signing purchased copies of his newest book, The Babysitter from Another Planet.
Savage tells the story of a brother and sister who are quickly won over by their alien babysitter. The crisp and dynamic illustrations that mark his visual and storytelling style will wow the kids. And the 1950s sci-fi and E.T. references will be of great amusement to the parents.
“I grew up in Los Angeles in the mid-60s and this book contains some of my earliest visual memories: Eichler houses, scenes from the original Star Trek TV series, fin-tailed cars, Danish Mid-Century furniture, Godzilla movies,” Savage tells New Pulp City. “I loved setting a story in the world I grew up in.”
Stephen Savage’s illustrations incorporate lush and bold figures and line movement while remaining clean and minimalist. The visual world is vital to the playful and resplendent world of this book. Savage, a BFA Illustration faculty member at School of Visual Arts in New York City since 2001, has written and illustrated a collection of exciting children’s books, including the Where’s Walrus series, Supertruck, and the recent Little Plane Learns to Write. He has also illustrated Polar Bear Night (written by Lauren Thompson) as well as The Fathers Are Coming Home by Margaret Wise Brown (author of the iconic Goodnight Moon).
“When I started out, I didn’t really know if I was more of a words person or a visuals person,” Savage told us in a 2016 interview. His work demonstrates a mastery of both.
Recently, Savage illustrated Jack B. Ninja, a collaboration with author Tim McCanna. That tale uses classic source material to create a vibrant collaboration.
Age recommendation: My son started enjoying Savage’s books soon after he turned two years old. The clear language also serves as excellent beginner reading material. And Savage’s words are consistently warm and inviting.
See you there.
What: Stephen Savage book tour for The Babysitter from Another Planet
When: Saturday, March 16
Where: [words] bookstore in Maplewood at 11:00 am and Indigo Short Hills at 1:00 pm. Both events are free and open to the public.
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