Description

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An all-ages adventure about friendship and seeing past differences. "Enough wit to amuse... enough charm to beguile." The New York Times

Mortimer is a young bird... who can't fly. His wings just aren't big enough, not yet, but that doesn't stop his well-intentioned parents from making him jump off the tree branch, again and again and again. It's terrifying and painful for Mortimer -- but he keeps trying. Then, one night, he overhears his parents talking, and discovers that they suspect he's a lazy bird! Mortified, Mortimer decides to run away from the nest. He won't return until he has learned how to fly. 

Mortimer's journey takes him to a place he has never seen or heard of before: The City! There, he discovers strange metal creatures (cards) and strange gangly creatures (humans) -- and meets the most talkative worm who has ever lived -- Lucius! Mortimer also happens to be a vegetarian, so the two strike up an almost immediate friendship.  

It's not soon before Lucius hatches a plan that will allow Mortimer to visit Wormland -- a plan that involves a human sock and the invention of the largest worm who has ever existed! 

But danger lurks as a group of military birds are planning an attack during Wormland's most important holiday, Wormy Squirmy Day.  Caught in the middle, Mortimer will be forced to choose between siding with the worms and siding with the birds -- or will he?!

About the Author

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Brendan Deneen is the author of the award-winning coming-of-age novel THE NINTH CIRCLE, the horror novel THE CHRYSALIS, and MORBIUS: BLOOD TIES, an original novel set in the Spider-Man universe for Titan/Marvel. He's also the author of the bestselling four volume NIGHT NIGHT GROOT picture book series for Marvel; the original middle grade graphic novel GREEN ARROW: STRANDED for DC Comics; the upcoming novel GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY -- ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST for Titan/Marvel; and the upcoming sci-fi romance novel TRACER for Blackstone Publishing. His other graphic novel work includes multiple volumes of FLASH GORDON, an original ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS book, a CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST reboot, PHOENIX (with Jim Krueger), SOLARMAN (a reboot of a Marvel/Stan Lee series), SCATTERBRAIN, and the comic book series THE BONES OF THE GODS. His short stories and essays have been published by St. Martin's Press, Reader's Digest Books, 13Thirty Press, and Necro Publications.  

Marco Antonio Cortez was the official illustrator and Art Coordinator of the Ayrton Senna Institute property named Senninha e sua Turma. He participated in the production of animated short films and features, including: “GUMMI BEARS”, “ALADDIN” (both from Disney-HGN) and “O GRILO FELIZ”, a feature film from Start Anima. In 1998, he set up a studio where he started to produce illustrations, comics, and animations for the editorial and advertising market. He has worked on a variety of books, such as Sitio do Picapau Amarelo for Editora Globo, Moranguinho at American Greetings, Nosso Amiguinho, and lots of other important publishers of didactic and children's books in Brazil. He did a comic story that was released at "Tickets", a book that was the winner of the 34th Angelo Agostini Trophy as best independent comic release in 2018 and nominated for the HQMIX award in that same category. He also did two comics for the album Histórias Passageiras, nominated for the HQMIX 2020 award, as a best independent collective album. He's currently working for a game and app company as a concept artist and on various comics projects as an author and artist. 

Praise For…

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"A lively adventure! Deneen does a remarkable job of weaving an adventure for young readers, and Cortez complements the story with colorful and engaging illustrations that are sure to delight."
— Nick Bruel

"Enough wit to amuse... enough charm to beguile."
— The New York Times