NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 David Sedaris is publishing his first children's book, a collaboration with Ian Falconer conceived decades ago and finished shortly before the 鈥淥livia鈥 creator died in March.
Toon Books, an imprint of Astra Publishing House, announced Thursday that 鈥淧retty Ugly鈥 will be published Feb. 27 of next year. A look at the 鈥渁ge-old question鈥 of what makes people attractive or unattractive, 鈥淧retty Ugly鈥 began 20 years ago as a contribution to the anthology 鈥淟ittle Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids.鈥
More recently, Toon publisher Fran莽oise Mouly, who helped edit 鈥淟ittle Lit,鈥 thought "Pretty Ugly" would work as a stand-alone book.
鈥淲ith the systematic attacks so-called conservatives are leveling on all those they see as deviant or even just different, it felt urgent to publish a tale with such a clear moral center,鈥 Mouly said in a statement. 鈥淒avid and Ian agreed and earlier this year, we finalized the editing and design, prepping it for spring 2024 publication. A few weeks before he died, I sent Ian the dummy and 鈥 in true Ian style 鈥 he remarked, 鈥渢his looks great. I can鈥檛 wait to see it bound ... and gagged.'鈥
Sedaris' previous books include such humorous works as 鈥淢e Talk Pretty One Day鈥 and 鈥淒ress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.鈥 Falconer is best known for his 鈥淥livia鈥 children's series, including 鈥淥livia鈥 and 鈥淥livia Saves the Circus.鈥
