This is the most in depth way to immerse yourself in the world of Nowhere Land and the magical guitar. The story follows the duo that is the boy and the fox on an adventure through a place that is not quite like here, but similar.
The book was created as a way to get into the story of Frank Fox by using your mind as your TV. The realization of the land that Frank is entangled with has been referenced in songs by Beneath The Sparrows like, “The Beast,” and the namesake song, “Nowhere Land.” These songs describe a place where time is altered and giant pandas rule the land.
Crespo started to write the book in early 2022, over 10 years after the comics were made by Alex Steven Martin. Where the comics tell the story of actually a future experience between the Frank and DAve, the story in the book focuses on their first meeting & thus a prequel to “Two Tails.”
The cover was created by Forest Aeon – @forest.aeon on ig – If you get the book, make sure to open it up to see the backcover with the front. There is also a print of the book with an orange cover and with some found fox art. You decide which is better. The paper that this print of the book uses is special linen paper while the cover uses a textured pearl color paper.
There are some pages within the book that are interactive and ask you playful things to do and choices to make. The book is not just words, rhymes and a story, but also an experience. Illustrations occur here and there within this print of the book too. These were penned by Crespo.
There is no specific rhyme scheme to the tale, but it does consistently rhyme. There are so many hidden rhymes that you should read the story aloud and see what rhymes you can make of the stanzas. The style has so many influences between Homer & Virgil, Gawain, Shell Silverstein. But, the tone of the story is really in honor of mysterious children’s book writer, Chris Van Allsburg, which wrote, “Jumanji,” and “The Polar Express.” The interactiveness of the book is influenced by another children’s book writer, Eric Carle, which wrote books like, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”
Is this a children’s book though? That remains to be decided. It definitely has some things for kids in it and the protagonist is a young boy. But, it’s content and tone may not be for kids. There are some soft swears within it, but nothing that wouldn’t make it into a PG-13 movie. Make sure to read it first to make sure it’s content is friendly for your kid.
The book is years in the making and is now available. Make sure to pick it by clicking —> HERE!