The Adventurous ABCs
Shaenon: Look at this! I’m illustrating a children’s alphabet book, The Adventurous ABCs, written by Jess Nevins. We’re running a Kickstarter for it now; back it to get the book, T-shirts, coloring pages, and more.
The image here is my illustration for L. If you’re very good I’ll share more in the coming weeks.
Channing: Oh, rock! I love what I’ve seen so far. Go back it and stuff!
Nasty looking dandelion there; I hope it doesn’t have bad breath.
Dandelion, derived from the French ‘dent-de-lion’, or ‘lion’s tooth’. Appropriate, although the color scheme doesn’t quite match.
Hmmm… From the four petal bloom and coloration, I do believe that’s a Lilac Lion!
I had unthinkingly figured it was a purple Tiger Lily because of the character, but lilacs definitely make a lot more sense.
In addition to the Lilac Lion (or Lion Lilac), I can see Lanterns, a Lawnmower, Lemonade, and a Lab-coat, and I guess the microscope has Lenses and a Light-source. But I cannot for the Life of me figure out what L-word describes a scientist who seems to be some sort of Mad Botanist, or hybrid-creator, or cross-kingdom-geneticist.
L…. what?
(follows link)
Lenu? It’s just her name?
The other purple plant is, I think, Lavender. Lilah the Lilac Lion also has Leaves.
(I love this sort of thing; I used to have a copy of Mike Wilks’s Ultimate Alphabet, although that’s a) probably not for kids, unless you’re cool with them seeing nudity and b) doesn’t feature many POC, and gets even more problematic on the occasions when it does.)
I’m pretty sure the pot in back contains lupins.
Isn’t Lenu a Lab-tech?
I collect the complete works of Dr. Seuss, and I was always so disappointed in his ABC Book, which is not only as all-white as his other works, but sexist as well. I’m thrilled to back an alternative for kids of future generations, who will truly be able to see themselves in it.
“Lavender blue, dilly dilly, lavender green…” Oh, wait a minute, it’s lavender lavender…
Kind of nasty seeing flower petals after last night’s Class….
You know, this sounds like it would’ve made a way better story than Little Shop of Horrors
The lean lilac lion from Lenu’s lab? I could go with that.
I hope Shaenon at least shares X and Q with us…
That would be nice since, IRL, “Q” is the first letter of my last name.
So wait, am I the only one that because of the pose isn’t sure the scientist is actually female, or just a guy in a dress with fabulous shoes.
Per the kickstarter, “L is for Lenu, In Her Lab with Lilah the Lion Lilac”. I hope she changes the H one to a simple cave- I don’t think kids should be exposed to Hollow Earth stuff (et al.) until they’re old enough for their belief to be their own fault…
What, no leotard under the lab coat?
Lenu looks up from her lab work to listen to lilac lion while lounging in front of her lavender and lawnmower, all lit up by lanterns.
While leaning on her loo table, careful not to spill her lemonade.