#squishbook

Squishbook (2023)

Squishbook is a big fat book from the artists of Melbourne’s Squishface Comic Studio. We’re a shared workspace for comics makers. It’s a “kids annual”-style collection of comics and activities, but it’s also a how-to-make-comics book, and a why-you-should-make-comics book! We spent a year writing, drawing, running workshops with the grade 2’s at Kensington Primary School and answering their questions. All our expertise, silliness and philosophy is rolled into a book for 8-12 year olds — the ones we’ve met over the years at Squishface Studio. The ones who love to draw all the time and their parents go, “What can I do with this child?“ Inside, you’ll find comics, and thoughts on making them, from David Blumenstein, Ben Hutchings, Sarah Howell, Jo Waite, Scarlette Baccini, Briar Rolfe, Alex e Clark, Patrick Alexander, Jin Hien Lau, Ive Sorocuk, Alex Pavlotski, guest “writers, not drawers” Nicholas J. Johnson and Warwick Holt.

Thank you to James at ALIA Graphic for calling out Squishbook as one of their top reads of 2024!

"a ridiculous and ridiculously engaging book that gives advice, examples and laughs in roughly equal measure" is another nice quote for us to cross-stitch and hang over the mantelpiece.

ALIA Graphic is the graphic novels/comics gang within the Australian Library & Information Association -- they're the librarians who do a lot to spruik comics (and especially Australian comics) as an important part of a library's collection. If you're a librarian, subscribe to their emails -- you get notified about notable newly released GNs you might want to get on your shelves.

AND: we agree Squishbook would be a nice book to consult if you're a library worker organising a comics workshop… but we want to remind you that there's also a free set of teachers' resources for Squishbook you can make use of!

Thanks also to Nat Karmichael of Comicoz for naming Squishbook his Best Original Australian Comic of 2024!

"Sharing comics with young people, making comics for young people, showing young people how the process works. This is THE best 'how to' book on the process of making comics. EVER."

This is a big call but we'll take the compliment!

Big school holidays at Squishface!

There's a lot happening at Squishface Comic Studio in Jan. We wanted to stack the month with a lot of events. Mostly for kids, but also for large kids (adults).

Squishface Comic Studio 14th birthday party! Sat Jan 4, 10am-2pm, free entry It's Squishface's birthday! Coaster drawing and cake! Yes, we're an awkward tween! Deal with it, Mum! OMG you are SO EMBARRASSING!

Squishbook workshop at Squishface Comic Studio! Wed Jan 8, 11am-12pm, $5 to bring up to 4 children Finally, we're running a Squishbook kids workshop at Squishface Studio! Bring the family.

Artists-in-residence at Artery in Hobart Sat Jan 11, in-store residency from 12pm, then a Squishbook workshop from 2:30pm We're going to hang out and draw at Hobart's finest art store/framer. Join us! If you want to bring some kids to the afternoon workshop, just let the Artery team know: [email protected] or call (03) 6234 3788.

Squishbook workshop at Bentleigh Library Wed 15 Jan, 11am-12:30pm, free entry but please book Hey Glen Eira, join us for some Squishbook action!

Comics workshop at Diamond Valley Library Fri 17th Jan, residency from 10am-4pm, manga workshop at 11am, free entry but please book Sarah will be artist-in-residence at Diamond Valley from 10am-4pm, and at 11am will be running a One Piece-inspired manga workshop!

Squishface Summer Workshop Day with Sarah Howell, Lily Mae Martin and Ariel Ries Sat Jan 18, 9:30am-12:30pm, $30 per workshop or $75 for all three Really excited about this. A huge morning of skills sharing from three amazing artists who coincidentally have also been Squishfacers. Suitable for all ages.

Manga workshops at Hyphen Wodonga Library Gallery, Wodonga, Vic Mon Jan 20, 8-12s session: 11:30am-12:30pm, 13-16s session: 1:30-3:30pm We're running some manga-inspired workshops at Hyphen! No booking link yet.

Squishbook workshop at Campbell Turnbull Library, West Brunswick Thu Jan 23, 10:30-11:30am, free entry but please book Great to be back in Brunstown for some Squishbook action! Maybe all the Brunswick kids we used to teach will bring THEIR kids along!

Squishbook workshop at Squishface Comic Studio! Fri Jan 24, 11am-12pm Can't make it to our Jan 8 workshop? Here's another one to close out the school holidays with.