The Art of Getting Noticed #1: A Graphic Novel

by Chelsea M. Campbell, Laura Knetzger (Illustrator)

Overview

Introducing a hilarious and heartfelt graphic novel in which an unlikely pair of cryptids—one a Bigfoot whose failure to get himself photographed disappoints his family, and the other a Loch Ness Monster, who seems unable to escape the spotlight wherever she goes—meet up and find friendship, creativity, and just the right amount of attention.

Meet Bigfoot and Nessie! Yes, that Bigfoot and Nessie. Only...Well, things are a little complicated right now.

Bigfoot is having trouble fitting in with his family. He can never quite manage to get himself into the picture, much to the disappointment of his mom, dad, and sister, who always want to be in the spotlight. When he meets Nessie, who’s equally desperate to get away from the cameras, he begins to ask himself the ultimate question: What’s the price of fame after all?

Big-hearted and clever, The Art of Getting Noticed by Chelsea M. Campbell and Laura Knetzger invites us to explore our most tender selves through friendship and creativity—and have quite a bit of fun in between!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593385739
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	06/04/2024
Series:	Bigfoot and Nessie , #1
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	612,057
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.27(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Chelsea M. Campbell (she/her) is always trying new things, which is why she wears a lot of hats. It’s definitely not to disguise herself because she’s secretly a cryptid. Besides writing this book, she’s also the author of the Renegade X series for teens and creator of The Weaver of Stories video game. For more information—and to try and see what she looks like without a hat—you can visit her online at www.chelseamcampbell.com.

Laura Knetzger (she/her) graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2012. She started drawing and self-publishing a series of all-ages comics called Bug Boys in 2011. Laura loves to make comics and books about small pleasures, small creatures, and feelings. The main inspirations for her stories come from plants and animals, art and handicrafts, and trying to think of things from a non-human perspective. She also enjoys painting, playing video games, and knitting. You can find her online at @LauraKnetzger

Editorial Reviews

"Campbell’s wink-and-a-nudge humor pairs with Knetzger’s rounded lines and adorable creatures to deliver a sincere story that explores friendship, social media exposure, and finding one’s niche."—Publishers Weekly

"A friendship story as rare as the creatures in it."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

12/12/2022

Two cryptid creatures navigate the lure and perils of notoriety in this witty and whimsical graphic novel, the first in a series. Bigfoot Littletoe the Third, a sasquatch, is trying to continue his family’s tradition of photobombing tourists, but he hasn’t had much luck; in one instance, he fumbles, slipping into a river. When another attempt leads to him getting tangled in a camper’s tent, he meets Nessie, of Loch Ness fame, clad in scarf and sunglasses to avoid being recognized. Nessie suggests that “maybe the tourist photo scene isn’t for you,” and sets out to help Bigfoot find his calling. A psychedelically colorful montage shows the cryptid duo making sidewalk chalk murals, scuba diving, DJing, and scrapbooking, before Bigfoot realizes a knack for hedge sculpture, and his creations earn him acclaim from passersby. But with Bigfoot’s newfound fame comes increased scrutiny that threatens Nessie’s peaceful incognito existence. Campbell’s wink-and-a-nudge humor pairs with Knetzger’s rounded lines and adorable creatures to deliver a sincere story that explores friendship, social media exposure, and finding one’s niche. Ages 6–9. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

02/01/2023

Gr 2–4—Unlike his fame-seeking family, young cryptid Bigfoot Littletoe's attempts to photobomb campers' selfies always result in disaster. After a mysteriously disguised long-necked creature named Nessie rescues him from his latest effort, they bond at a campfire and decide to figure out what Bigfoot enjoys when not chasing the limelight. Exploring different activities like chalk drawing and scrapbooking eventually leads Bigfoot to a newfound appreciation of hedge sculpting. His incredibly realistic sculptures attract unexpected fame for Bigfoot and unwanted attention for Nessie. Young Bigfoot must now decide what is more important—fame or friendship? In this short but sweet graphic novel, Campbell and Knetzger emphasize themes of creativity, uniqueness, and camaraderie. Young readers will appreciate the overall messaging of finding your niche and doing something because you enjoy it, not because of external attention. Nessie's aversion to attention is also relatable. The cute, chibi-reminiscent character design and cheery palette are a great fit for the story, helping to introduce the concept of cryptids in an engaging and humorous manner to audiences who might not otherwise be familiar with them. The wordless panels where Bigfoot and Nessie try out different hobbies are a standout and particularly neat, and the variety of creatures add to the visual interest. Secondary human characters present as diverse. It is not inherently obvious that cryptids and humans exist peacefully together; hopefully, any future sequels might explore Bigfoot and Nessie's world further. VERDICT An enjoyable introduction to legends of Bigfoot and Nessie that is certainly worth noticing. Recommended for public and school libraries.—Pearl Derlaga

School Library Journal

2022-11-16
An adorably legendary pairing unfolds in this creative, cryptozoological graphic novel.

Bigfoot Littletoe III just can’t seem to stand out. The rest of his family members make headlines with their epic photobombs of humans. Try as he might, Bigfoot keeps goofing it up, tripping, slipping, or stumbling and missing many opportunities to have his picture taken. When, one day, he gets tangled up in some campers’ tent, a smartly disguised stranger stumbles upon the forlorn Bigfoot. With the flap of a flipper, she shakes him loose, and after a campfire heart-to-heart, she assures Bigfoot that there’s more to life than being noticed. Bigfoot’s new pal is none other than Nessie, but the fluffy fella does not recognize her as the Nessie of Loch Ness fame. Nessie suggests Bigfoot stop fixating on fame and start figuring out what he actually enjoys doing, leading to an artistic montage that culminates with Bigfoot finding his true passion: hedge sculptures, which finally bring him the fame he’s long sought! Conflict arises when Nessie’s true identity is uncovered and Bigfoot has to decide which is more important: the adoration of masses of people he doesn’t know or the love of his one true friend. Far from being a one-note monster story, this tale has strong social-emotional elements, like Nessie’s calm reassurance, which inspires Bigfoot to create art despite self-doubt, woven into the narrative to create unexpected depth and complexity. The cheerful, manga-inspired artwork pops with color and expression, adding a dreamy quality to the work. Luckily for readers, this darling duo will appear again, as this is the first in a planned series. Humans depicted are diverse.

A friendship story as rare as the creatures in it. (Graphic novel. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews