Today is the release date for my first children's book, 'Grandfather Gandhi'! Written by Mahatma Gandhi's grandson, Arun Gandhi, and author Bethany Hegedus, it is the story of a young boy learning to use his anger to create change, with the guidance of his monumental grandfather.
The book has been a dream job, especially for my first job out of school, and it's so wonderful to finally have it out in the world!
Below is the book trailer with narration from authors Arun and Bethany, music by Ustad Ghulam Farid Nizami, and animation and illustration by yours truly!
The reviews so far have been wonderful, including a starred review from both Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly! Here are a few quotes about the art from early reviews:
Turk
mixes carefully detailed renderings with abstracted expressions of
emotional struggle, achieving a powerful balance. - See more at:
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Grandfather-Gandhi/Arun-Gandhi/9781442423657#sthash.kCROT9aI.dpuf
"Turk mixes carefully detailed renderings with abstracted expressions of emotional struggle, achieving a powerful balance."
-Booklist, December 2013
"Turk’s complex collages, rich in symbolic meaning and bold, expressive
imagery, contribute greatly to the emotional worldbuilding."
-Kirkus Review, starred review
"Turk’s illustrations are stylized, strikingly patterned, and rendered in
contrasting purples and golds, blues and creams, blacks and whites,
highlighting the tension between anger and peace. Dynamic visuals and
storytelling create a rousing family story that speaks to a broad
audience."
-Publishers Weekly, starred review
Also, check out the site for the book GrandfatherGandhi.com where you can read posts about the book, its creation, and its themes from myself and the two authors. You can also take a Pledge inspired by the message in the book, to Live Your Life As Light.
More to come soon on this blog about the making of the art and illustrations for Grandfather Gandhi!
(Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)
