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Comics creators from around the world submit their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents.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.
How to History: The Bone Wars
So about this “history” thing. Can we trust it? Where did the stories that we accept as fact come from in the first place? Are they always true? And how do we know?
Told from alternating perspectives, HOW TO HISTORY: THE BONE WARS explores the legendary feud between early American paleontologists O.C. Marsh and E.D. Cope. Their colossal competition left a gigantic mess behind. But what really happened? History, like paleontology, only gives us part of the truth. It’s up to the reader to examine the primary sources and put the pieces together.
Come for the dinosaurs, stay for the critical thinking!
Perfect for fans of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales and the History Smashers series.
Age Range:
Middle GradeGenre:
Biography, History, Humor, NonfictionPage Count Estimate:
224-256
My Why:
It's a confusing world out there. With misinformation flying around, social media echo chambers, and manipulative advertising, it's so hard sometimes to understand the truth, even for us Responsible Grown-Ups. As a parent, I worry about the world my son is growing up in. My hope in writing the HOW TO HISTORY series is to create accessible, high interest stories that will introduce kids to concepts like implicit bias and varying perspectives, and challenge them to question what they read. I believe that kids are capable of understanding that complexity, and the sooner they can begin thinking about it, the better!
(Also, dinosaurs and cowboys are cool.)
Shay McClean
When I was a kid, I either wanted to be a paleontologist or a writer. I ended up just marrying a paleontologist instead, which as it turns out is much easier than becoming one. Then I got a B.A. in Creative Writing and worked as a children’s bookseller for 15+ years. (You might remember me from such bookstores as Third Street Books in Oregon and Books of Wonder in NYC, where I planned events). I now live in Maryland with my husband, our preschooler, and many, many dinosaur toys.