The Rise of Kurtis

Inspired by his first school year at ICSB and the wildly popular Dog Man graphic novel by Dav Pilkey, Kurtis M. has taken the plunge into storytelling. In his first graphic novel, he weaved together humorous and unexpected moments taken from real-life experiences and the figments of his vivid imagination. From crime in the city to capybaras at the zoo, this book has it all. 

In addition to intriguing and smile-inducing storylines, this book includes interactive sections like Flip-O-Ramas and a step-by-step guide at the end showing peers how to draw the characters.

 

 

At the beginning of the book, Kurtis meets a new friend, a fictional character named Dodo. Much of the book is about their adventures together. Some parts, like the chapter on Secret Santa, are inspired by actual events and feature real-life characters like Ms. Dai Silva. Other chapters, like the one with the lost underwear, in which a mysterious creature is formed by breaking too much wind, are fictional...hopefully. Several chapters feature a dog named Max, who desperately needs more potty training, although Kurtis shared that he actually has cats, not dogs, and plans to feature his real-life pets in the next book.

 

 

That's right, this first book, published with his dad's help in China, was just the beginning. Kurtis is already working on his next project. He plans to continue writing multiple books, one more autobiographical, others more fictional, or a mix between the two. His artistic endeavors have been an inspiration to his classmates. He has already started a collaborative project with one classmate, Ella T., and many more want to join in on the fun! There were even talks of starting a club!

 

 

We are so proud of Kurtis, his creativity, initiative, and leadership. We are grateful for teachers like Ms. Silva, who help create a supportive environment for students to grow in their skills, explore their creative interests, and thrive.