Kids Comics Pitchfest Showcase
Comics creators from around the world submit their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents. A panel of judges (click here to see the juror list) select the top pitches. Projects are archived here so that industry pros may view them and discover new talent.
Punk Rock
Rock is a punk! It’s no wonder though–he’s constantly trampled, no one listens to him, and the only thing that brought him a "pebble" of joy is now crushed under the wheel of a girl’s bike. But the girl sees past Rock’s tough facade and moves him from the beaten path to a flower bed. There, Rock gets the chance to join a punk band (of flowers)! But when his “buds” are suddenly in danger of being crushed underfoot, Rock will have to break a few rules to get people “tuned in” to nature.
PUNK ROCK is an early graphic novel that throws back to simple self-expression through mixtapes and zines, with blasts of compassion, friendship, and turning bad into awesome!
Age Range:
Chapter BookGenre:
Fiction, History, Humor, Social-EmotionalPage Count Estimate:
160
My Why:
When you're a kid, you just want to be heard. It seems like the world doesn't care what you think or say. PUNK ROCK is all about being heard and causing chaos when needed. When a system leaves someone behind, it often takes someone in power to recognize it and take action. This story is about a soul (Rock) that feels ignored, someone taking the time to help him, and him growing from that experience.
The story is a memoir of sorts. When we think back to our youth, we were Rock (punk rockers), the girl (helping those less fortunate), the flower buds (friends). Spiking our hair; crafting clothing out of patches, safety pins, and markers; creating art with what we have to express ourselves. This is us and our story.
Shanda McCloskey
Shanda McCloskey studied art in Atlanta and New York City. But before writing and illustrating kids books, she taught art to high-schoolers. Shanda now lives in Georgia with her husband/best bud–Ben, two daughters, and dog. Shanda’s award-winning STEM-friendly picture books DOLL-E 1.0 and T-BONE THE DRONE have taken her to wonderful people and places! She is also the illustrator of several other books. PUNK ROCK is her first graphic novel.
Ben McCloskey
Ben McCloskey is a jack of many trades! Web developer by day and writer, artist, girl dad, husband to his best bud–Shanda, graphic designer, podcast producer, movie buff, and peach gardener by night. In high school, Ben was a punk rocker and the lead singer in his band! He wrote several punk songs including the unfamed “Abacus” and “Milledgeville College of Industrial Cleaning Arts”. Ben never wore a mohawk, but he has been known to sport spikes! PUNK ROCK is his first book.