ean the Stick. Is it an existential children's tale? A weird book for all ages? Is it a story about a person who becomes best friends with a stick? Is it a love story about nature? Nature versus nurture? This beautiful hardcover book combines a Kevin Sampsell short story told in simple (yet emotionally vast) short sentences with colorful drawings by Emma Jon-Michael Frank, an artist whose celebrated works of vulnerability, humor, and empathy have garnered their work an enthusiastic and growing audience over the years.

Where did this book come from?

About two years ago, Kevin asked Em if they would make some art for the story, Sean (which was originally published in Diagram). Wanting to keep the project a secret, Kevin finished other projects in the meantime until finally putting the book together to drop on unsuspecting readers. This is the first book on Future Tense published with full color art. We hope it makes you smile.