Yesterday I was at the library to drop off some videos when I saw a children's book titled Airport by Byron Barton. "Wow" I said to myself, they did a book adaptation of the movie Airport for kids? That's pretty f#@%ed up! There's no better way to terrify children about flying than to tell them a story about a plane bombing!
But when I picked up the book, I saw that it wasn't a movie adaptation of Airport after all. Instead it's a book to tell kids what happens when you go on a plane trip... standing in line for tickets... boarding the plane... how to buckle your seatbelt... and all that stuff. I thought that was a pretty cool way to prepare a child for their first airplane ride.
It was cute and everything, but I think that it was pretty sanitized. There's a lot of stuff that was left out, and it got me to thinking that perhaps I should write my own children's book about the reality of air travel...
A pity that I'm already half-way through illustrating my first children's book, because this is a kick-ass idea. Oh well, on the bright side I've already got an idea for my second book.
Sigh. I wish there were books like this when I was a kid.
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Great book idea! If you do them as no more than, say, 15-20 pages each, you could have a series: “Travels with Bad Monkey”. Not only fun, but educational. And the vocabulary words kids could learn! You’re on to something here, Dave.
You are unique !!! I love this idea… I am laughing right now ! 😀
I’d buy that book for all of my friends.
Uhm, by the way….can you send Bad Monkey over for a bit, with a bag of something else?
😉
I’d like that comic printed out on a teeshirt front and back so next time I’m zooming across the country the people at US Airways have something to read… 😀
oh bad monkey! silly boy, never use a wire tie.
Do we know about this new children’s book you’re half-way through? I may have missed your mention of it. If so, when will it be finished?
Heh, I’d buy that book for sure. That silly monkey ought to know better. Waste of good drugs.
Does Bad Monkey like gladiator movies?
Huh, does he?
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a totally important chapter in a childrens book. I can see a use for a chapter on celebrity, the 10,000 mile club and privacy too.
Bad Monkey doesn’t fool me – he totally used the metal wire tie on purpose. What a way to get your thrills Bad Monkey!
and what happens when you run out of toothpaste- which, by the way, you’ve already written
make sure there is a chapter on crazy people on airplanes. i’ve experienced quite a few — not to mention the drunk ones. when you are at 45k ft. there isn’t much that flight attendants can do without assistance from passengers…
This is a great idea. I see a whole series.
BAD MONKEY GETS A HOOKER
BAD MONKEY AND THE BAD BUZZ
BAD MONKEY MEETS FRIENDS IN JAIL
Do we all get to share in the royalties?
Ha ha ha!! There is something hilariously endearing about the way Lil’ Dave and Bad Monkey are holding hands in the last panel. Like, were it not for Lil’ Dave, Bad Monkey would be dead in an alley by now.
Mrs. RW… The first book has 10 of the 24 pages completed. Since illustrating a book is a lot more detailed and complicated that the simple cartoons I draw here, it’s taking a lot longer than I had anticipated.
Laurence… Sure, it’s funny when somebody else has to get a rectal cavity search, but wait until it happens to you! 😀
Hilly… Bad Monkey saves all his “bags” for coking up hookers he meets. He’s not called “Bad Monkey” for nothing!
Rachel… But I wonder if the inspectors at the airport would find it funny? My guess is not. They don’t seem to have much of a sense of humor.
Ms. Sizzle… Yeah, he knows that now. Still, it was a pretty expensive listen to learn. 🙁
Jeff… It’s called “Bad Monkey and the Cosmic Banana” and I’ve only released one small illustration (from the back cover) on my blog.
Karl… Oh I’m sure they were put to good use eventually. 😉
Bogup… Bad Monkey only watched porn. So if there is a gladiator porn flick, I’m sure he’d love it.
Göran… An actual book on actual air travel could fill volumes. I’ve seen a lot of strange stuff in my time…
Serap… Perhaps. You can never really tell what’s going on in his twisted little mind.
James… I won’t be running out of toothpaste any time soon! I learned my lesson!
Yellojkt… Bad Monkey pretty much writes himself, and I sure ain’t sharing royalties with him!
Diane… If you let go, he’ll just wander off and get into more trouble. Bad little monkey! Dead in an alley indeed! 🙂
Does the monkey die in your book Dave?
;>)
Oh my gosh. I know you already know this but I just thought I would confirm, YOU ARE BRILLIANT!
Oh. My. God.
What scares me is that you really are writing a children’s book. Gah!
Kachina… Heavens no! I don’t know what I’d do without my monkey!
August… Just because I know it doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear it from time to time. 🙂
Kapgar… But it’s a really CUTE children’s book!
I´m in on a collaboration, I have about 4 years of experience from the airline business and tons of good stories. 🙂
I have 200k miles on UAL that could be drawn upon for experiences. One of my favs was having those in steerage sprayed for insects — between Hawaii and Sydney. Meanwhile, those in first class were given a brief pffft and the rest of the can was sprayed into a closet!