Weed: Cannabis Culture in the Americas, Zest Books, 2023 The aim for this design was to be bold, eye-catching, and a bit cheeky, while not losing sight of the book’s educational subject matter. A bright yellow background and 3D font did the trick.
Nearer My Freedom: The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano by Himself, Zest Books, 2023 This much-lauded book (five starred reviews) had an eccentric, circuitous cover design process, which couldn’t be more appropriate for such a unique gem.
The Denim Diaries: A Memoir, Zest Books, 2023 This illustrated memoir, with starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus, deserved a cover with the same vibrant, DIY energy of its interior. A bonus: the author isn’t afraid of pink.
Top Secret Series, Alternator Books, 2023 Each title in this six-book series explores a different “secret” location. Naturally, the design features manila envelopes, paperclips, redacted files, and lots of other fun flourishes with a tactile feel.
All the Things We Never Said, Carolrhoda Lab, 2023 The goal for this award-winning (Kirkus starred review) young adult novel’s cover was that it capture the story’s heavy but ultimately hopeful tone. The combination of a moody, textured dark purple background overlayed with bright yellow hand-cut shapes achieved the necessary balance.
Ruth First Never Backed Down, Kar-Ben Publishing, 2023 This children’s book tells the true story of anti-apartheid activist Ruth First. With stunning illustrations by Gabhor Utomo, it is a beautiful introduction to an incredible woman.
Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War, Zest Books, 2023 A School Library Journal starred review title, this young adult book tells the true story of the 65th Infantry Regiment. With and photos and maps throughout the interior, the book is a visually compelling examination of this chapter of US history.
Roads to Family: All the Ways We Come to Be, Twenty-First Century Books, 2023 For a book so thoughtful and inclusive, the cover needed to be equally expansive. A series of colorful, overlapping arrows each taking their own path toward the title felt like the right fit. The full-color layout continues the playful theme of …
Notes from a Sickbed, Graphic Universe, 2022 A 2022 Kirkus Best Young Adult Books of the Year winner, Notes from a Sickbed is a one-of-a-kind graphic novel. The format provided ample opportunity for inventive design. Special touches crafted by the author include hand-lettered titles for each story, faux stickers and notes for the back cover, …
The Other Cheek: An Epic Nonviolent Yarn, The Crucial Years, 2021 McKibben described this book as “kind of an ode to nonviolent movement building.” It is exactly that, and it is lovely. The Other Cheek is a sequel of sorts to McKibben’s previous novel, Radio Free Vermont. For that reason, the design plays with similar …