David Sedaris is releasing his first book for kids, a joint effort with Ian Falconer that was begun decades ago and completed just before the “Olivia” creator’s passing in March.
Astra Publishing House’s imprint Toon Books revealed on Thursday that “Pretty Ugly” will be released on February 27 of the following year. “Pretty Ugly” was first written 20 years ago as a submission to the anthology “Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids.” It examines the “age-old question” of what makes someone attractive or repulsive.
It felt necessary to publish a story with such a strong moral core because of the systematic attacks so-called conservatives are making on everyone they perceive as abnormal or even just different, said Mouly in a statement. “David and Ian concurred, and we completed the editing and design earlier this year in preparation for release in the spring of 2024. I emailed Ian the dummy a few weeks before he passed away, and in typical Ian fashion, he said, “This looks amazing. I am so excited to see it restrained and gagged.
Previous volumes by Sedaris have included comedic pieces like “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.” Most people are familiar with Falconer from his “Olivia” children’s book series, which includes “Olivia” and “Olivia Saves the Circus.”