Phil Yeh, godfather of the American graphic novel, is bringing his 25-year tour and newest book to New York City’s famous Books of Wonder, an inspiration for the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan film You’ve Got Mail. Yeh will sign his NBM graphic novel Dinosaurs Across America at the store – located near Union Square at 18 West 18th Street – on Saturday, December 1, from noon to two p.m.

Yeh and his band of artists, known collectively as Cartoonists Across America, have traveled the world to promote education since 1985. Along the way, the Cartoonists (with the help of thousands of children) have painted more than 1,600 murals promoting literacy. After the tour’s end in 2010, Yeh plans to finish the feature-length documentary Planet Literacy: The Cartoonists Across America.

Image from Amazon
Dinosaurs Across America
by Phil Yeh

Dinosaurs Across America is Yeh’s latest book, filled with fun facts about the United States in a cheerful cartoon form. A black-and-white comic-book version of the book has been reprinted eight times and sold nearly 200,000 copies. In August, NBM Publishing released Dinosaurs Across America in a full-color, hardbound format.

Dinosaurs Across America has attracted shining reviews.
• “The perfect place for children to begin to study geography.” –
Chris Wilson, The Graphic Classroom
• “A great book for kids interested in state capitals or geography in
general. (Or even for kids who aren’t interested in that, but need to
learn some of it.)” – Andrew Wheeler, ComicMix
• “Ideal for older elementary-school kids.” – The Onion
• “An entertaining way to learn.” -Kat Kan, Booklist
• “The graphics are eye catching. . . . Patrick Rabbit and the
dinosaurs get their points across easily while interesting readers of
all ages.” – Tim Lasiuta, Happy Harbor Comics
• “A snazzy little learning tool. . . . The cartooning is impeccable.”
– Marc Mason, Comics Waiting Room

Art from Dinosaurs Across America is available at: http://www.nbmpub.com/fairytales/dinosaurs/dinopre1.html http://web.mac.com/philyeh/iWeb/DAA/States.html

Both Yeh and NBM have long histories in the graphic-novel world. NBM, the first American house to publish graphic novels consistently, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Yeh has been in graphic novels for nearly as long. Well before graphic novels became a bookstore staple, Yeh was encouraging his fellow artists to dive in to the format.

Books of Wonder, founded in 1980, is New York City's largest and oldest children's bookstore, and one of the nation’s leading specialists in children's literature. Its departments include children's classic and contemporary picture books, board books for infants and toddlers, foreign language children's books, reference books for children (dictionaries, atlases, etc.), non-fiction, and chapter books and novels for children from beginning readers to teens. The store is especially famous for its collection of Wizard of Oz books and its wall of old, rare, and collectible children's books and original children's book art.

In addition to his appearance at Books of Wonder, Yeh’s tour schedule includes:

Thursday, November 1
Two comics workshops
Thornton-Fractional South High School
18500 Burnham Ave.
Lansing, IL 60438
708-585-2000
jhallberg@tfd215.org
http://www.tfd215.org/

Saturday, December 9, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Mural painting
Blue Back Square
West Hartford, CT 06107
678-553-3906
ccraig@ronusproperties.com
http://www.bluebacksquare.com/

For more information:

David Seidman
Online Publicist
NBM Publishing
310-652-4369
davidseidman@earthlink.net
http://www.nbmpub.com/comingup/comaugust.html

Linda Adams
(Phil Yeh’s representative)
909-725-7337
lindaadams35@yahoo.com
http://www.wingedtiger.com/

Books of Wonder
212-989-3270
store@booksofwonder.com
http://www.booksofwonder.com