Author & Illustrator Profile
Sara Varon
8 Books
Sara Varon is a graphic novelist and illustrator who creates charming comic narratives featuring anthropomorphic animal characters. She is the creator of the wordless graphic novel Robot Dreams, as well as books like Bake Sale and Chicken and Cat. She also frequently collaborates with other writers, providing the illustrations for titles like Odd Duck and President Squid. Her distinctive, expressive art style focuses on themes of friendship, loneliness, and the quirky details of everyday life.
Sara absolutely loves to draw pictures and tell amazing stories. But sometimes, finding that perfect first idea is the hardest part of all. What if her brain feels completely empty? What if she tries to draw a character and it turns out looking terrible? It can be incredibly frustrating to sit in front of a blank page feeling stuck. Luckily, Sara is never actually alone when she creates. She has a tiny, wonderful friend who is always right by her side: her trusty Pencil. With a little bit of encouragement and a lot of teamwork, Pencil helps Sara discover that a story does not have to be absolutely perfect right from the start. The most important thing is simply using your wild imagination and having fun making something new. This playful and inspiring story is perfect for young artists and writers discovering their own creative magic and learning to push past the fear of making a messy mistake.
6-8 Years
25 Pages
Francis the donkey is the absolute best shoemaker in his entire village. He takes deep pride in his craft, using only the finest materials for his footwear, like smooth coconut wood for the soles and soft goat wool for the insoles. But his absolute favorite material is wild tiger grass. One day, Francis receives a massive surprise. He gets a special shoe order from his favorite singer in the world, Miss Manatee, the famous queen of calypso. There is just one huge problem. He is completely out of tiger grass. To create the perfect pair of shoes for his idol, Francis must leave his comfortable village for the very first time and journey deep into the unpredictable jungle of South America. Along the way, he encounters a fascinating cast of wildlife, from a capybara to a slow moving sloth. It turns out the world outside his neighborhood is not so scary once you get to know it. Join Francis on a vivid graphic novel adventure about stepping out of your comfort zone.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
108 Pages
Chicken has just started a brand new housekeeping business, and who better to bring on as a partner than best friend Cat? It seems like a brilliant plan, but the reality is a little messier. No matter how hard Cat tries to help sweep and scrub, things just keep going wrong. Cat is sleepy, incredibly clumsy, and keeps making hilarious mistakes that leave Chicken frustrated and Cat feeling terribly sad. But when a sneaky mouse tries to rob a ladybug right on the street, Cat finally gets a chance to shine. Listening to natural feline instincts, Cat springs into action and bravely catches the thief, saving the day. The two friends quickly realize they just need to combine their unique talents. This charming story is a wonderful adventure about discovering what you are good at, working through tough moments, and starting fresh.
6-8 Years
50 Pages
There are so many wonderful moments in the day to reach out and hold hands. You can hold hands when you are carefully crossing a busy street, or when you are riding the bus and cannot find an empty seat. You can hold hands when it is time to say goodbye, or when you are jumping incredibly high. Everybody everywhere holds hands. Whether it is grabbing the hand of your little brother, locking fingers with your best friend, or even holding tight to your favorite doll, it is the perfect way to show you care. This beautifully illustrated rhyming story celebrates the simple, powerful magic of connection. It takes you through a joyful day showing all the ways we support one another just by reaching out. Enjoy this sweet, heartwarming reminder that no matter where you go, you never have to do it alone.
6-8 Years
21 Pages
Cat has packed up and moved to the big bustling city to stay with best friend Chicken. The city is loud, busy, and full of incredible things to do. But after a little while, Cat starts to feel terribly homesick for the country. The grey sidewalks just cannot compare to green trees, bright flowers, and fresh air. Chicken takes Cat on all sorts of exciting adventures to cheer him up, but nothing seems to cure the blues. How can Chicken make this concrete jungle feel like a bright and happy home for a country cat? When Cat gets a wonderful idea to plant a blooming garden right in the middle of an empty city lot, everything begins to change. The neighborhood blossoms, and so does their sweet friendship. This beautifully simple story captures the challenges of moving somewhere new and the amazing things friends will do to make each other smile.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
Meet Theodora. She swims with a teacup perfectly balanced on her head and prefers to stay up north when the rest of the flock flies south for the winter. To her, this is just a perfectly normal life. Then there is Chad. Chad is a completely strange bird with chaotic habits and a wildly creative streak. Despite their differences, Theodora really likes him. She figures it is a good thing Chad has a steady, normal friend like her to set a good example. But as they spend more time together, Theodora begins to realize that normal is a matter of perspective. Are her strict routines really the right way to live, or is there something wonderful about Chad's messy creativity? It turns out that figuring out who the real odd duck is might just change everything she knows about friendship. This funny and gorgeously illustrated graphic novel explores the little quirks that make us who we are and the incredible joy of finding someone who loves you exactly as you are.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
98 Pages
A giant squid has decided that he possesses the absolute perfect qualities to be the next great leader. Squid knows exactly what it takes to be the president. He already knows how to do all the talking, he fully expects to live in a gigantic house, and he even understands that wearing a very important tie is crucial for the job. He is completely ready to rule! Dive into this deeply funny ocean adventure as Squid tries to convince everyone that a giant sea creature is exactly what the voters need. You will love exploring his silly reasons for wanting power and learning what true leadership actually looks like. This highly entertaining picture book is packed with giant laughs, quirky aquatic characters, and a clever look at what makes someone a genuinely good leader.
6-8 Years
43 Pages
50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists
By
Vanessa Davis, Eleanor Davis, Nick Abadzis, Richard Thompson, James Sturm, Craig Thompson, Gahan Wilson, Drew Weing, Stan Sakai, Richard Sala, Roz Chast, Raina Telgemeier, Mike Mignola, Tao Nyeu, Mathew Forsythe, Cyril Pedrosa, Sara Varon, Laura Park, Marc Rosenthal, Patrick Mcdonnell, Jen Wang, Jordan Crane, Jaime Hernández, Lark Pien, George O'Connor, Dave Roman, Ben Hatke, Kate Beaton, Bob Flynn, Theo Ellsworth, Nick Bruel, Alexis Frederick-Fost, David Macaulay, Tony Millionaire, Mark Martin, Eric Orchard, Gilbert Hernández, Gene Luen Yang, Mo Oh, Mark Siegel, Stephanie Yue, Lilli Carré, Rebecca Dart, Jules Feiffer, Lucy Knisley, J.P. Coovert, Aaron Renier, Vera Brosgol, and Scott Campbell
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Collected by
Chris Duffy
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With
Leonard S. Marcus
Have you ever wondered what Jack and Jill, Old Mother Hubbard, and the Owl and the Pussycat look like in a comic book? Welcome to a whole new way to read the classics!
Nursery Rhyme Comics takes fifty of your favorite traditional rhymes and brings them to life through colorful, action-packed comic panels. Instead of just reading the words, you get to see the hilarious and surprising ways fifty different cartoonists imagine these timeless stories. Every rhyme is short, sweet, and easy to read, with bright artwork that makes each page a brand-new adventure.
Whether you are discovering these rhymes for the very first time or seeing old favorites in a totally new style, this collection is packed with funny moments, wild characters, and amazing art. It is the perfect mix of classic poetry and modern graphic novels, designed specially to keep you turning the pages with a giant smile on your face.
6-8 Years
119 Pages
