TOON Books celebrated its second anniversary in style on April 9 with a launch party celebrating the publication of TOON’s science-based early reader comic Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework. Author Nadja Spiegelman and illustrator Trade Loeffler gathered with colleagues and friends to enjoy the slick new hardcovers, bonus puppets and toys, and platters of cheese and grapes on every table.
The launch party was the perfect cap to a week of signings and talks by Spiegelman and Loeffler for the Strand and Barnes and Noble bookstores. The whirlwind of book promotion has been exhilarating for Spiegelman, a first-time author. Loeffler, though a veteran of web comics creation and publication, is still impressed with the quality of TOON hardcovers and the deliciousness of real-world (not digital) launch party snacks.
Spiegelman, Loeffler, and Hayes will only have a moment’s rest between parties and readings: they’re off this month to school visits across New York City, where they will go through the newest TOON Books with children and explain the workings of systems as complicated as the food chain or as letting someone borrow your toys. But for TOON Books’ authors and illustrators, this jam-packed schedule is fun, not work. According to them, even rooftop launch parties can’t measure up to hearing a classroom of kids ask you to read your TOON title just one – more - time!