Kids Comics Pitchfest 2023 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Comics creators from around the world submit their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents.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.
Butterfly Blues
Sophie is a caterpillar who dreams of becoming a beautiful butterfly, but when she finally goes through metamorphosis and exits her cocoon, she is shocked to find that she has become a plain old moth! Sophie’s mother tries to convince her that there is so much more to her than her appearance, but pressure from her friends at camp, and the feelings of insecurity they inadvertently encourage, eclipse her mom’s “love yourself” advice. This changes when Sophie and her friends find themselves in danger, and it is only through embracing who she is that Sophie is able to save the day.
Age Range:
Picture Book, Middle GradeGenre:
Adventure, Animals, Humor, Social-EmotionalPage Count Estimate:
10 (Can definetly be expanded to 20+)
My Why:
Although moths and butterflies go through the same metamorphosis, in our society moths are dismissed as ugly while butterflies are beloved. It made me wonder what a caterpillar would feel like if they always dreamed of being a butterfly but instead turned into a moth. They may try everything to shed their moth-ness and become as butterfly-like as possible. But moths are actually quite cool in their own right and bring their own unique wonder to this world. In the same way, while our instinct is to change ourselves to fit into whatever we think our friends find cool or acceptable, I hope this book encourages kids to instead embrace their weirdness, spunk, and individuality, and through doing so become not pretty per say, but pretty awesome!
Basya Goldstein
Basya Goldstein is first and foremost a student! Like a golden retriever, Basya has boundless energy, loves meeting people, and is constantly drawing and creating stories… so maybe a slightly more versatile Golden retriever. Basya has a BA in Art and English from Stern College and received a Masters in Biblical Interpretation while pursuing her Masters of Fine Arts from SVA. She enjoys nerding out about animation, playing sports, and making WAY too many analogies.
Guy Island
Guy Island is set in a quiet seaside town, where best friends Keira and Charlotte run a pirate inn together. While Charlotte is fully content with things as they are, Keira is sick of the awful dating scene and dullness of their everyday life. When she comes across a map to “Guy Island”, an El Dorado of guys instead of gold, she and Charlotte are swept up on an adventure of pirates, spice belts, and carnivorous mushroom men. Along the way they will have to figure out whether their friendship can withstand their differing aspirations.
Age Range:
Young AdultGenre:
Adventure, Humor, Social-EmotionalPage Count Estimate:
42 pages (Can be expanded)
My Why:
While the premise of Guy Island might be a bit out there, the story draws from real life emotions and experiences - frustrations with dating, the fear of losing friends as you grow older, and especially my love hate (emphasis on the hate) relationship with change. I hope this story makes people laugh at the facial expressions, absurd situations, and funny dialogue, but that it also gives people some comfort, that even though it’s scary when people and friendships start to change and shift, and when we ourselves start to change and shift, - it’s going to be okay in the end. We each have our own maps to happiness, and we are gonna find it!
Basya Goldstein
Basya Goldstein is first and foremost a student! Like a golden retriever, Basya has boundless energy, loves meeting people, and is constantly drawing and creating stories… so maybe a slightly more versatile Golden retriever. Basya has a BA in Art and English from Stern College and received a Masters in Biblical Interpretation while pursuing her Masters of Fine Arts from SVA. She enjoys nerding out about animation, playing sports, and making WAY too many analogies.