The Runaway Beard is an illustrated storybook for children age three to seven that comes with an object that’s both irreverent and irresistible—a fake beard—and a sensibility, in design and illustration, that appeals to the nostalgia of parents. Showcasing the beard, while also protecting it, became the central design and production challenge, leading to the die-cut see-through cover with plastic pouch. The result is a cover that makes strong eye contact while also working as a visual joke, showing the character with and without the beard.