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SPECIAL SECTION // For Your Entertainment
The Sour Grape book

Grapes of mirth

The Sour Grape is the latest collaboration between Jory John and Pete Oswald

by STEPHANIE E. PONDER

Author Jory John and illustrator Pete Oswald kicked off their Food Group series with The Bad Seed. Other titles include The Couch Potato, The Good Egg and now The Sour Grape. The Connection recently asked the two about their work.

Costco Connection What led you to working on picture books, and what keeps you engaged with that genre?
Jory John I’d been working with kids at an educational nonprofit writing center in San Francisco. I’d spend my days teaching writing and reading books to groups of kids. Meanwhile, I was writing on the side—at night and on the weekends—whether it was fiction, or newspaper articles, or comics. I finally decided to combine those two interests: writing and working with children, because I felt like all my years spent with kids helped me get a good idea of what they liked, what they responded to and what made them laugh. It’s such an honor to be a part of a child’s life and reading experiences through picture books.

Pete Oswald Before I worked on picture books, I worked in animation. In both mediums, I get to tell stories through my drawings. I love making animated films, but there is something magical about making a tangible book that will influence kids and adults. Now that I have three children of my own, I feel that it’s even more important to make great picture books.

CC What do you two enjoy about working with each other?
JJ I love working with Pete! Imagine collaborating with an incredibly creative and talented and brilliant friend. (I’ll wait while you imagine this.) That’s exactly what we’ve got going for us. He’s constantly able to interpret the text in hilarious and heartwarming and unexpected ways, always beyond what I could’ve hoped for, and he knocks it out of the park, every single time.

PO I’m extremely grateful to call Jory my collaborator and my friend. Jory has the ability to take a tiny kernel and turn it into a story that is full of edgy wit, heartfelt positive themes and a timeless tone. His honesty keeps our creativity on point at every stage of the process. Oh, and I just enjoy chatting with him. Thanks for answering my call at 3 a.m., pal!

CC Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about The Sour Grape?
JJ The Sour Grape is partly about realizing that we all have difficult moments, and that things might not always go according to plan. Maybe you’ll be disappointed in something or somebody. But oftentimes, if you take a few deep breaths and look at the big picture—well, maybe what’s disappointing you won’t seem like such a big deal, after all. And ultimately, it’s about how—if you attempt to look on the bright side, and look for the best in yourself and others—life really can be pretty sweet.

PO Illustrating The Sour Grape was extremely cathartic. There is something about drawing a character who is not afraid to show emotion that is really freeing. I believe that when children are given the opportunity to navigate their feelings and emotions, they become more resilient, better communicators and more self-connected.


open book

Meet The Sour Grape

We may have all held grudges, but in The Sour Grape the titular grape holds grudges for every reason under the sun. Lime never returned a borrowed scarf? Grudge! Orange never called back? Grudge! When a friend holds a grudge against the Sour Grape without listening to an explanation, the Sour Grape realizes how unfair grudges can be. Is it possible that forgiveness and compassion can turn a sour grape sweet?—SEP


Costco Connection: Several books by Jory John and Pete Oswald, including The Sour Grape (Item 1668346), will be available 11-14 in most Costco warehouses and at Costco.com.

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