Project brief: Target audience: three- to six-year-olds and their parents. The book uses art and words that focus on spacial relationships. As the yellow road cuts through town, by the sea and through the country, it takes readers up and around, along and through, out and down. This celebration of cycling was created as a single, continuous 35-foot-long piece of art, executed in five special colors plus a spot UV throughout.

Approach: The idea for the book was created in partnership with a talented editor. Although Frank Viva designed the book, important contributions (like the idea for the spot UV) were made by the production and design team at Little, Brown.

Effectiveness: It is too early for metrics, but here are a few quotes:

“My son begged me for a copy of this book to show off on campus. He’s a connoisseur of cool and saw right away that the exceptional wit and beauty of Along A Long Road will make it an instant favorite of young and old, even hard-to-impress 18-year-olds.” —Françoise Mouly, art editor, The New Yorker

“Who knows the joys of sliding through a varied countryside on two thin wheels? Frank Viva does, and he shares them with us in this beautiful book.” —Chris Raschka, Caldecott Medal-winning artist

“Viva’s artwork combines supple curves, big areas of soft black background, light blue for water and shading and the occasional brick-red accent; it’s simultaneously stylish and restrained.” —Publishers Weekly

“That shiny road widens and narrows but never ceases, and readers will gaze wide-eyed at what is along the way. Kids will feel the speed of the bike and the there-ness of place.” —Kirkus Reviews

Witty and beautiful! The spot UV throughout really enhances already great illustrations.