CURRENTLY WORKING · WRITTEN & ILLUSTRATED BY NICO SUN
Captain Andy
I’m writing and illustrating a picture book about a captain looking for a crew on the first day of summer break. Here are some drawings alongside excerpts from my manuscript.
Color study · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
Captain’s Log · Home Port
This is Captain Andy of the S.S. Summer Break. Today’s date: Day One of no school! The weather: sunny, with a zero percent chance of grown-ups. A perfect day to set sail.
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
Home Port · Recruiting Day
“All hands on deck!” I called. “Aye, aye, Captain!” I answered. “Lookout! Anything ahead?” “All clear!” “Raise the sails!” “Hard-a-port! And full speed ahead!” I hurried from one job to the next. Captain, lookout, helmsman, sailor. I could do every job on board all by myself. Pretty impressive, if you ask me.
But even the greatest captain could use a few extra hands. I should give the other kids a chance to prove themselves. So, I officially decided: Today is Recruiting Day!
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
The Red Knight’s Castle
I sailed out on my little boat and soon found my first possible crew member—a knight in the middle of a duel, I think. Armed to the teeth, his helmet was stuck way down over his head. Could he even see?
He pointed his sword forward and cried, “You there, Undefeatable Red Knight! Face me! I, Xiao Di the Brave, challenge you to a joust!” Then he lifted his sword high. “And when I win, I shall be the Grand Grand Champion!”
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
The Big Tree
I kept looking for my crew and saw another kid sitting under the Big Tree. “Ahoy! My name is Andy…” Suddenly, he put a finger to his lips and waved me closer.
“Shhh…” he whispered. “Come hide in my shelter, and don’t wake the sleepy tigers!”
He pointed at the cats.
“Oh. The tigers. I got it.”
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
The Stop Sign
Just around the corner, a girl in a wizard hat was mixing something in a big pitcher. It was full of lemon slices and ice cubes, and it looked delicious. So I asked, “Hi, I’m Andy. Can I have some of your lemonade?”
She quickly pulled it away. “No! Not lemonade.” Then she leaned in and explained, “Abracadabra! I’m Magic Becca. These are my potions, and I’m mixing them to perfection!”
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
The Grassy Hill
“Yes!” he said right away.
That was fast.
Before I could say anything else, he grabbed his bow. “I see your hat. You’re the ship captain, right? I’ll be the lookout! Let me show you my trick shot!”
One arrow, two arrows, three arrows—
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
He fired them so fast, I could barely see them go. That was awesome, until we had to get down on our hands and knees and look for his arrows.
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
The Basketball Court
At the basketball court, I found a real barbarian kid, he looked very strong. At first, I had no idea what he was saying. “Coconut stuck,” he said. “Xiao Shuai want coconut.”
It made no sense.
Then he pulled me to the side and pointed at his cave painting. “Ohhh. I get it now,” I said. “You want those ‘coconuts’ down from the ‘tree,’ right?”
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
The Red Knight’s Castle · A Little Help
“Go help knight,” I told Xiao Shuai. “Helmet stuck.”
“Me strong,” he said. “Me help.”
He grabbed Xiao Di’s helmet with both hands and pulled as hard as he could.
“AAAAAH!”
POP!
Off it came.
Xiao Di blinked, looked around, and grinned. “Marvelous! I can see again!”
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
The Big Tree · No More Tigers
Xiao Di stepped forward. “Fear not! A true knight is here!” He held his shield high and banged his sword against it.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The tigers jumped up and ran in every direction. For a moment, nothing moved inside the shelter. Then Xiao Pang’s head slowly peeked out behind the Big Tree.
“All clear!” I called. “You can come out now!”
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
The Stop Sign · The Perfect Potion
Becca looked nervous. “But… was it perfect?” she asked. “Too sweet? Too sour? Not cold enough?”
Xiao Pang poured himself another cup. “Honestly, I don’t know what perfect tastes like,” he said. “But if I want another cup, doesn’t that mean it’s really good?”
Becca looked at the empty cup, then at Xiao Pang. Slowly, she smiled. “I guess it does. Do you guys want to try some too?”
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
The Grassy Hill · Magic Arrows
Magic Becca stepped forward. “Maybe I can help.” She took out her wand and unrolled one of her magic scrolls. Hidden inside were the straws from the potion cups. “Easy breezy, arrows speedy!” she cried, waving her wand.
POOF!
The straws turned into arrows. Xiao Gu’s eyes got huge. “My arrows!” He grabbed them all and hugged them tight. “I will never lose you again!” Then he looked at Becca. “That was magical. Thank you!” Becca smiled proudly. “I know.”
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
The Basketball Court · Aim First
“Wait,” I said. “This time, aim first.”
For once, Xiao Gu did not shoot right away. He stopped, looked up, closed one eye, and took his time. He moved the bow a little to the left, then a little to the right. Everyone stood still and watched.
“Now,” he whispered.
WHOOSH!
The arrow flew up, bounced once, then twice—and knocked both coconuts loose.
Pencil drawing · Currently working
FROM MY MANUSCRIPT
Home Port · A Captain and His Crew
“Okay, okay! Put me down!” I said. They kept cheering anyway, and I could feel my face getting hot. I didn’t really know what to say. “Seriously guys. A captain is nothing without a crew,” I finally said. “I just got lucky and found a really good one.”
This morning, I thought I could do every job on board all by myself. I still could, probably. But now I’d much rather do it together with my crew.