NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� David Sedaris is publishing his first children's book, a collaboration with Ian Falconer conceived decades ago and finished shortly before the 鈥淥livia鈥� creator died in March.
Toon Books, an imprint of Astra Publishing House, announced Thursday that 鈥淧retty Ugly鈥� will be published Feb. 27 of next year. A look at the 鈥渁ge-old question鈥� of what makes people attractive or unattractive, 鈥淧retty Ugly鈥� began 20 years ago as a contribution to the anthology 鈥淟ittle Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids.鈥�
More recently, Toon publisher Fran莽oise Mouly, who helped edit 鈥淟ittle Lit,鈥� thought "Pretty Ugly" would work as a stand-alone book.
鈥淲ith the systematic attacks so-called conservatives are leveling on all those they see as deviant or even just different, it felt urgent to publish a tale with such a clear moral center,鈥� Mouly said in a statement. 鈥淒avid and Ian agreed and earlier this year, we finalized the editing and design, prepping it for spring 2024 publication. A few weeks before he died, I sent Ian the dummy and 鈥� in true Ian style 鈥� he remarked, 鈥渢his looks great. I can鈥檛 wait to see it bound ... and gagged.'鈥�
Sedaris' previous books include such humorous works as 鈥淢e Talk Pretty One Day鈥� and 鈥淒ress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.鈥� Falconer is best known for his 鈥淥livia鈥� children's series, including 鈥淥livia鈥� and 鈥淥livia Saves the Circus.鈥�
The Associated Press
