Sweatherweather: and Other Short Stories by Sara Varon
Review by Lauren
Source: copy for review; all opinions are my own
Official Summary: Back before Odd Duck, before Robot Dreams, Sara Varon created Sweaterweather. This endearing, quirky volume is a captivating look into Varon’s creative process. It combines short comics stories, essays, and journal entries, and invites the reader into the world of Sara Varon: where adorable, awkward anthropomorphic animals walk the streets of Brooklyn and a surprising, sideways revelation is waiting around every corner.
Review: This is a book that I could see wannabe comic writers/artists really enjoying. Before every new comic, there is a little box with the comic title, when it was created, and then information from Varon herself on the style, or the story behind the comic. Sometimes Varon cannot remember the details behind a comic, but for the most part, it’s a nice look into the mind of the artist.
Varon draws in a fun style, giving animals a human quality and making them the main characters in her little stories. The colors are mostly blue and white, pink and white, or a mix of the three colors. The animals feel simple and fun, but it’s the details in the comic strips that really catch your eye and show Varon’s true talent.
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| “The Flight” – source |
One of the stories I liked was titled “The Flight” and it’s about a cat who sees a plane and has a wish to fly, using pigeons in their quest to do so! This comic does not include any words, so it’s a completely silent story. Regardless, it’s easy to understand – though younger readers might have a fun time creating their own dialogue. In fact, most of these comics do not have words except for the ones that read more like diary entries or include an animal version of Varon doing interviews.
It’s a fun collection and the first 8 stories in the book were published as Sweaterweather in 2003. This version includes Varon’s thoughts, as well as some additional comics!
This looks like it would be a great starter book for a younger audience that wants to try this genre. Fun!
I love the illustrations here! they're so cute! thanks for the discovery!
This is going on my Books To Look For Before A Readathon list. 😉
Yaaasss! I love the name of this tome – so perfect for the current cold snap SoCal is experiencing!
xx
This just looked cute and fun. I love the illustrations.
Oh this looks absolutely ADORABLE Lauren! I love children's books and especially those with little dialogue so they're open to interpretation and discussion. I have to get a copy, this is just too cute to pass up! Thanks for sharing Lauren and putting it on my radar <3 <3
How cute!
This sounds fun, and I like that it shows how each was created Lauren.
Looks adorable! Glad you had fun with this one, Lauren. 😀
This looks like it could be a lot of fun – and I really like her drawing style.
Thanks for the review, it sounds fun!
This looks adorable! I always like movies or books with animals taking on lives like we lead. Thanks for sharing this one!
That cover is SO cute!
Karen @For What It's Worth
This sounds like a fun book with how every comic has a bit of backgroudn info and gives you an idea what the authro was thinkign when she created them. I like the look of that picture you shared and the mix of three colours works pretty well
I recognize the titles that the author wrote before so I think I'll like Sweaterweather. That cover and the fact it reminds me of a certain song is really cool. The commentaries sound like this is something people who really love comics and their artists will enjoy.
This looks like a simple and quick read – the drawings are really peculiar, not something you typically see in the comic book genre.
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