Here We Are

We are delighted to reveal the cover for Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth a new book we are working on with Oliver Jeffers and HarperCollins.

The new title is Oliver’s first non-fiction picture book and is a guide to the world which, according to Oliver, lays out “the most basic principles of humanity in an extremely holistic, sometimes comedic, way”.

The book marks a change of direction for Jeffers in terms of both style and message. Although the colour palette used is in line with his previous books, the illustration in Here We Are is “a lot more colourful and detailed” than Oliver’s usual work. He has used a variety of materials to create the artwork, including digital tools, ink, watercolour and coloured pencil.

His approach to addressing issues in his writing has changed too. He said: “I’ve always tried to avoid being overly moralistic in my books—but this book is unapologetically moralistic. My thinking was, ‘If all of these bizarre and terrible things are happening politically and nobody is speaking out about it, how can I justify not doing anything in years to come when my son asks me?”

Jeffers’ way of working also shifted with his latest book. He said: “For a year and a half I’ve been trying to figure out how to make art in the context of being a father. Evenings and weekends were normally my most productive times in the studio, but now those are the two times I don’t go in to the studio. The book has been about finding new processes with which to work within those confines.”

HarperCollins will release Here We Are globally in hardback on 16th November 2017, although it will be published in the US (via HC UK) by Penguin Young Readers imprint Philomel. Oliver will tour the UK and the US to promote the book on its publication.