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Comics creators from around the world submit their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents.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.
Pegasipian Warriors
A vision of Skosh the Worm Demon rising from his banishment sends four wind spirits to Earth in search of champions to fight the ancient evil in the name of The Great Pegasus. Instead, they are mistaken for Pomeranian puppies and adopted by four sixth graders. Granted magical powers by the wind spirits, Theo, Ava, Naomi, and Aspen seek to harness the power of the seasons and transform into Pegasipian Warriors before Skosh devours the world. But what if there is more to the story of the Great Pegasus and Skosh than the wind spirits have let on? Theo and his friends must not only come to terms with the powers they never asked for, but also learn that only they can decide what it means to wield their powers in the name of love and justice.
Age Range:
Middle GradeGenre:
Adventure, FantasyPage Count Estimate:
150
My Why:
Pegasipian Warriors is my love letter to magical girl manga with a gender inclusive twist. My magical tweens include one boy, two girls, and a nonbinary kid. Pegasipian Warriors centers Theo, because I want to write alternatives to traditional masculinity. Theo’s Pegasipian powers grow from love, justice, and friendship rather than violence and physical strength. Children’s literature has expanded in recent years to show girls excelling in a range of traditionally masculine pursuits like math, science, and piracy. Models of masculinity in children’s literature, like in American culture as a whole, remain much more narrow. I hope that Pegasipian Warriors can be a small shift toward a feminist masculinity.
Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri
Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri (she/her) spends her days reading to small children, doing crafts and activities with slightly larger children, and recommending books to children of all ages. In other words, she is a children’s librarian. She firmly believes that she has the best job in the world. After work she goes home to write and draw her own stories to share with children. Celeste lives in Boston with her husband, two children, three cats, two ferrets, two guinea pigs, and a dog.