Local illustrator releasing children's book

[Bativac]

Fellow Jacksonville-ians,

A local cartoonist and illustrator, namely me, has teamed up with a local poet and author to create a children's book, "Buddy and Bird." The book has just been released, and we'll be on 1320 AM this afternoon between 5 and 6 PM being interviewed on "We the People."

If you're interested in the book, check out www.buddyandbird.com for more info! We'd love to have some local support!

[Johnny]

Awesome, good luck! I hope you sell a lot of copies!

[Bativac]

We will be on First Coast Connect tomorrow at 9:30 AM discussing Buddy and Bird. We'll also be at the Art Walk tomorrow afternoon in the old library selling signed (and "sketched") copies of Buddy and Bird. Listen in, then come out and say hello!

[BridgeTroll]

Awesome!  Congratulations!  Great illustrations...

Let me guess...

Buddy... Railroad enthusiast... promoting streetcars and commuter rail projects...

Teams up with...

Bird... urban planner... promoter of urban core and density...

Why this popped into my head I do not know...

[Bativac]

Be glad to, Stephen.

The story is about a couple of middle school kids from different areas - Bird from an upper middle class neighborhood in the suburbs and Buddy from a lower middle class area near the "urban core."

The kids are assigned by their teacher (Mr. Hands, an anthropomorphic octopus) to learn about their different cultures and lifestyles. Buddy and Bird approach the project with fear and apprehension.

Through the story, the two kids experience each others' environments and learn a little bit about how life is on the "other side of the tracks." The goal was to present the different experiences as just that - different, not necessarily better or worse.

The book is the product of poet Rod Borisade, who had a fairly rough upbringing (drug-addicted mother, no father, brother passed away young), and myself, cartoonist Aaron Hazouri (who had a pretty average middle-class upbringing). We're hoping it will catch on and maybe help turn the tide of anger and violence that has infected some parts of our city, which we think is rooted more in misunderstanding than in anything else. We were both born and raised here in Jacksonville and would like to do something to help turn the area around. We figure the best way to do that is to get 'em while they're young.

We'll be in the Hayden Burns library tonight, books in hand, hopefully not freezing to death...

[Bativac]

Thanks to anyone who came out and bought a book from us. It was fun though there is no heat in the old library, so we almost froze to death. Plus some kind of Star Wars fan club was set up right behind us, which was a little weird.

We'll be at the next Art Walk hawking our books. Hope to see everyone!

[Bativac]

Wanted to give a general update on Buddy and Bird. Maybe some of the MetroJax regulars saw us on The Morning Show this past Tuesday? Or, maybe some of you saw us doing a reading at the Chick-Fil-A later that afternoon (and doing live illustrations)? Perhaps author Roderick Borisade and I were seen making the rounds during the Art Walk last night.

We'll be out at the next Art Walk, books in hand, eager to tell our story (and, of course, sell books). We hope to get the chance to spread the word. Anybody who is interested can check us out at www.buddyandbird.com. We're really hoping this book can make some small difference in the urban community here in Jacksonville.

[Cliffs_Daughter]

What age/grade level would you think this book appeals to?

[Bativac]

We've done readings to kindergarten-aged kids at Tiger Academy, and preschool kids at the Head Start program, and even some second graders. I think the appropriate age bracket is probably 4 to 7, though parents of some 7 year olds have told us the book is not advanced enough for their children.

[Cliffs_Daughter]

Thanks for letting me know!

I think we'd like in 2 copies for my office - my volunteers read to kindergartens in Title I schools all over the county, and we're looking for age-appropriate books for our next order. We keep our own lending library for them, and newer titles keep them interested.

[Bativac]

Cliffs_Daughter, if you'd like to order a couple copies, visit buddyandbird.com and shoot me an email. Be happy to oblige!