Nathaniel Lachenmeyer

My first all-ages graphic novel, The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales, was published by First Second/Macmillan in June 2019. Illustrated by Simini Blocker, The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales is a collection of original fairy tales featuring a music-hating witch, a desperate genie, a frog, a spell-casting parrot, an art-loving ogre, and a singing rock. I think it is my best children's writing to date.

I have always loved fairy tales, and the reasons have stayed pretty much the same from when I was a kid until now. I love the imagination behind fairy tales and the eclecticism of the stories. I love how you can finish a handful in a sitting, and travel far and wide while doing it. I love the humor and irreverence in some fairy tales, the meaning and message in others—and the ones that manage both best of all. Or, as Hans Christian Anderson put it...

“Now you must tell us a fairy tale,” said the queen, “and I want it to be both profound and instructive.” “But at the same time funny,” added the king.“I will try,” said the merchant’s son.

Most of all, I love fairy tales’ connection to folk tales; to old, old stories that resonate and echo in the way that only old stories can. I had a lot of fun writing these stories and envisioning the worlds, panel by panel, in which they were to unfold. And it was exciting and gratifying to see those stories take on life in the hands of a talented artist. I only wish there had been room to include more! 

News:

The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales is a Fall 2019 Junior LIbrary Guild Selection.

The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales is a Weekly Pick on School Library Journal's blog Good Comics For Kids.

The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales was selected as one of the 2019 Comics for Kids You Should Keep an Eye On on School Library Journal's Blog A Fuse #8 Production.

Reviews:

"A droll delight."

--The Wall Street Journal

"These wry and charming tales of the power of persistence will delight readers with lively text and expressive art. It’s a great addition to elementary and middle school graphic collections."

--School Library Journal

“The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales makes with the magic this summer.... You can’t use adjectives like ‘brand-new’ and not deliver, so it’s a good thing writer, Nathaniel Lachenmeyer, and artist, Simini Blocker, do.... Just in time for summer, it’s a quick read but one where the fun doesn’t have to stop with the last page.”

--Comiccon

"This book is wonderful! I can easily say I'm ready for more -- another book with more stories! Yes, it's a kids' book, but if you like fairy tales, you'll enjoy the humor of these new ones, plus the lovely art!"

--Sequential Tart

"This lighthearted collection should delight pre-readers from preschool on, and independent readers through fifth grade.... Four original fairytales feel like rediscovered classics with a sly twist." 

--Shelf Awareness

"In this comics-format collection of four original fairy tales, Lachenmeyer and Blocker play with universal themes of identity, truth, and joy using a distinctly droll tone…. Blocker’s illustrations enhance the absurdist nature of Lachenmeyer’s stories, and her expert control of facial expression and body language add a layer of slapstick, which heightens the collection’s comedic sensibility.... These fairy tales are sure to entertain."

--Publishers Weekly

"In this charming book of fairy-tales, there is a fun surprise for every type of reader. There's a frog who can't get away from a voracious genie and a witch who ends up seeing her spell backfire. Then there's a series of fun and whimsical stories about a parrot that surprises his new owner with very specific vocabulary, and one about an ogre determined to truly see himself as art no matter how many artists it takes to make it happen. Broken up into four distinct stories, this collection brings chuckles and surprises along the way. Even though all the stories are illustrated by the same artist, they all have their own distinct personality and style. The beautiful, richly colored stories bring the characters and their adventures to life, with some stories relying on traditional paneling while others take a more freewheeling approach. A cute and welcome addition to the fairy-tale genre that will have young readers laughing with delight at the misadventures of all of the charming characters."

--Booklist