A Child Author Who Loves Music
As I have shared for many years, there are a variety of people who capture my attention as they present their special stories. What usually gets my immediate reaction is when children are involved, especially those who use their talents and skills in a unique way. This is one of those young people who caught my attention. He has a passion for music and has decided to create an educational book, inspired by bands he loves, to motivate others to learn the alphabet.
“BANDS by Jude,” an alphabet book featuring popular rock and indie bands, is the debut book by child author Jude Evans. Realizing there weren’t any kids’ books about famous bands, Jude worked with San Diego-based artist Chloe Becky to create 26 illustrations of his favorite bands each representing a different letter. The idea of “BANDS by Jude” began with a simple question several years ago.
“One night when my dad was reading to me, I asked him if there were any books about my favorite bands at the time,” says Jude Evans. “When I realized there were not any, I decided to make one so that other kids like me could read and enjoy.”
Jude’s passion for music started at a young age with his birthday wish list being annually filled with vinyl records. He has long enjoyed going to concerts and music festivals such as Coachella, which he has attended five times.
At the young age of three, when he was learning to read, he asked his dad, Marq Evans, if there was an ABC book with some of his favorite indie bands that include Arctic Monkeys, Jaguar Ma, Modest Mouse, Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend, that also said where each band was from. He quickly realized that kind of book didn’t exist. That’s when he decided to make it himself at just the age of three. He was grateful for the inspiration from the popular kids’ book, “What Do You Do with An Idea,” by Kobi Yamada.
What has definitely helped Jude to work through this concept are his parents. Both of his parents, Marq and Angela Evans, are entrepreneurs. Jude grew up watching both his parents follow their passions and with their help, Jude began the seven-year journey of creating his first book. With the assistance of artist, Chloe Becky, a collaborative process occurred, and a vision became reality. The alphabet book is filled with gorgeous illustrations and bold colors that highlight the band’s name and where the band originated. Readers of all ages are now able to embark on a journey of musical discovery.
Now, at the seasoned age of ten, the published author spends his free time collecting vinyl records from some of his favorite bands, and plays in four punk bands. Fortunately, Jude says he is not done creating and has future aspirations of writing a book and creating a movie.
“BANDS by Jude” is an alphabet book for music lovers that will have young and mature individuals rocking their ABCs and is available for purchase. To learn more about “BANDS by Jude” and to watch the book trailer, visit bandsbyjude.com.
Category: Art, Authors, Books, Education, feature, Local News, Students
