Fanbase Press’ coverage of the 2018 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards continues with the “Countdown to the Eisners” series. From Monday, June 4, through Friday, July 13, 2018, Fanbase Press will highlight each of the Eisner Awards’ 31 nomination categories, providing comic book industry members and readers alike the opportunity to learn more about the nominees and their work. Stay tuned for Fanbase Press’ continued coverage of the Eisner Awards, including live coverage of the ceremony at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 20.
As one can guess from the title of the award, these nominees are being recognized for creative achievement in American comic books for early readers. As all nominees this year represent, the real talent when creating comic books for younger audiences is to create a story that can be enjoyed not only by the child, but to those adults who read it, as well. The Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 8) category has existed since 2012, and previous winners include BirdCatDog, Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea, and more.
Here are the 2018 Eisner Award nominees for the for Early Readers (up to age 8) category:
Adele in Sand Land by Claude Ponti, translated by Skeeter Grant and Françoise Mouly (Toon Books)
“Spectacular weirdness…imaginative odyssey…memorable as it is bizarre.”
—Wall Street Journal’s Best New Children’s Books
Described by critics as dreamlike and reminiscent of Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland, French cartoonist Claude Ponti’s Adele in Sand Land follows its lead character on a journey that is often bizarre and nonsensical, but full of imagination.
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Arthur and the Golden Rope by Joe Todd-Stanton (Flying Eye/Nobrow)
Part of the Brownstone Mythical Collection which examines the history behind the various unique treasures housed in the Brownstone family vault, Nobrow Press describes Arthur and the Golden Rope as “the tale of the very first Brownstone and his quest for the golden rope as we travel back to the land of the Vikings. A place filled with magical objects, powerful gods, and legendary beasts to be conquered!”
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Egg by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books)
Created by Caldecott Medalist and New York Times bestselling author Kevin Henkes, Egg tells a story of unlikely friendship that blossoms when three eggs (pink, yellow, and blue) hatch and one (green) doesn’t. Children love guessing what will happen on the next page as the mystery of the green egg is revealed.
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Good Night, Planet by Liniers (Toon Books)
Much like the Pixar classic, Toy Story, this title asks children what their toys are up to while they are asleep. Of course, the answer is that our toys go on their own adventures! Follow along as Planet, a stuffed animal, goes on his own exciting journey after the little girl who owns him goes to sleep after a long day of play.
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Liniers now lives in Vermont. His previous works include The Big Wet Balloon and Written and Drawn by Henrietta.
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Little Tails in the Savannah by Frederic Brrémaud and Federico Bertolucci, translated by Mike Kennedy (Lion Forge/Magnetic)
As described on the publisher’s website, the main characters of Little Tails in the Savannah, Chipper and Squizzo, are a precocious puppy and squirrel who love to explore new and exciting environments, flying their cardboard box airplane to wondrous worlds full of fascinating animals and creatures. Each volume of the series follows the pair as they tour a different location, and the third volume takes them to the plains of Africa in the fun and educational title.
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Stay tuned to the Fanbase Press website tomorrow as we continue our “Countdown to the Eisners” coverage with the Best Continuing Series! Plus, follow Fanbase Press’ Facebook, Twitter (@Fanbase_Press), and Instagram (@fanbasepress) with the hashtag #FPSDCC to stay up to date on our SDCC and Eisner Awards updates, including a live-tweet of the 2018 Eisner Award Ceremony from the Hilton Bayfront Hotel at San Diego Comic-Con on the evening of Friday, July 20th!
