James Burks
@jamesburks.bsky.social
Creator of Bird&Squirrel, Agent9, Boxtales (’25) and other children's books. Animation director, writer, illustrator, runner, and coffee lover. Rep’d by Kelly Sonnack | www.jamesburks.com
Pinned
James Burks
@jamesburks.bsky.social
· Dec 11
Meet the artist. I’m James Burks, creator of the graphic novels Bird&Squirrel, Agent9, and the upcoming Boxtales. I also work in animation on films like the Iron Giant, the Emperor’s New Groove, and animated TV shows like WowWowWubbzy, Bravest Warriors, and Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Reposted by James Burks
This week on #24CarrotWriting Vicky Fang shares excellent advice on creating a series-worthy character and tips for developing a book series. www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/writin... @fangmousbooks.bsky.social @candlewickpress.bsky.social @meganlitwinbooks.bsky.social @kristimahoney.bsky.social
Writing a Series-Worthy Character
Guest blog by Vicky Fang Having a main character that can drive multiple books is a key part of creating a chapter book series. But how do you create a series-worthy character? I’m...
www.24carrotwriting.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM
This week on #24CarrotWriting Vicky Fang shares excellent advice on creating a series-worthy character and tips for developing a book series. www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/writin... @fangmousbooks.bsky.social @candlewickpress.bsky.social @meganlitwinbooks.bsky.social @kristimahoney.bsky.social
Reposted by James Burks
I've recently been WAY off track creatively. I really connected with this @andyjpizza.bsky.social podcast and the one before it (#528) Best part? I finally got into the zone today! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Es...
Escape Your Creative Rut with This 5 Part Creative Hygiene Checklist
YouTube video by Creative Pep Talk
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I've recently been WAY off track creatively. I really connected with this @andyjpizza.bsky.social podcast and the one before it (#528) Best part? I finally got into the zone today! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Es...
Reposted by James Burks
Happy Wednesday! We created a starter pack of ABLA authors & illustrators just for you! We are HUGE fans of these humans.
Note: We’re still adding to this list, which has been created by an enthusiastic assistant and not AI, so if you see that someone’s missing let us know! 😊
go.bsky.app/Rux2YKX
Note: We’re still adding to this list, which has been created by an enthusiastic assistant and not AI, so if you see that someone’s missing let us know! 😊
go.bsky.app/Rux2YKX
November 5, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Happy Wednesday! We created a starter pack of ABLA authors & illustrators just for you! We are HUGE fans of these humans.
Note: We’re still adding to this list, which has been created by an enthusiastic assistant and not AI, so if you see that someone’s missing let us know! 😊
go.bsky.app/Rux2YKX
Note: We’re still adding to this list, which has been created by an enthusiastic assistant and not AI, so if you see that someone’s missing let us know! 😊
go.bsky.app/Rux2YKX
Reposted by James Burks
Box Tales: Grow, Strawberries, Grow! is great for kids and adults. Graphic Progeny approved! #graphicnovel #comics #kidlit @jamesburks.bsky.social @01firstsecond.bsky.social @mackidssl.bsky.social
Box Tales: Grow, Strawberries, Grow! is great for kids and adults. Graphic Progeny approved!
Beatrix and Box want to eat a million strawberries! But their only way to do it is to grow their own strawberry garden!
graphicpolicy.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Box Tales: Grow, Strawberries, Grow! is great for kids and adults. Graphic Progeny approved! #graphicnovel #comics #kidlit @jamesburks.bsky.social @01firstsecond.bsky.social @mackidssl.bsky.social
Reposted by James Burks
🎨 Spotlight on James Burks (@jamesburks.bsky.social)!
James’s Illustrator Page
James is represented by Kelly Sonnack (@ksonnack.bsky.social). He is open to picture books and black & white interiors.
James’s Illustrator Page
James is represented by Kelly Sonnack (@ksonnack.bsky.social). He is open to picture books and black & white interiors.
October 8, 2025 at 8:43 PM
🎨 Spotlight on James Burks (@jamesburks.bsky.social)!
James’s Illustrator Page
James is represented by Kelly Sonnack (@ksonnack.bsky.social). He is open to picture books and black & white interiors.
James’s Illustrator Page
James is represented by Kelly Sonnack (@ksonnack.bsky.social). He is open to picture books and black & white interiors.
Reposted by James Burks
Happy Book Birthday to Box Tales: Grow, Strawberries, Grow! by @jamesburks.bsky.social. This graphic novel for young readers follows Beatrix and Box as they attempt to grow their own strawberry garden 🍓🪴 bit.ly/4fkJHsR
September 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Happy Book Birthday to Box Tales: Grow, Strawberries, Grow! by @jamesburks.bsky.social. This graphic novel for young readers follows Beatrix and Box as they attempt to grow their own strawberry garden 🍓🪴 bit.ly/4fkJHsR
Reposted by James Burks
Science is happening every day and everywhere! We are excited about our Science Saturday celebrations with three authors visiting on September 12th.
11 am: @kirstenwlarson.bsky.social
1 pm: @jamesburks.bsky.social
4 pm: @phdcomics.com
www.shoponceuponatime.com/event/scienc...
11 am: @kirstenwlarson.bsky.social
1 pm: @jamesburks.bsky.social
4 pm: @phdcomics.com
www.shoponceuponatime.com/event/scienc...
September 17, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Science is happening every day and everywhere! We are excited about our Science Saturday celebrations with three authors visiting on September 12th.
11 am: @kirstenwlarson.bsky.social
1 pm: @jamesburks.bsky.social
4 pm: @phdcomics.com
www.shoponceuponatime.com/event/scienc...
11 am: @kirstenwlarson.bsky.social
1 pm: @jamesburks.bsky.social
4 pm: @phdcomics.com
www.shoponceuponatime.com/event/scienc...
Reposted by James Burks
🎨 Spotlight on @mikeboldt.bsky.social
Mike's Illustrator Page
Mike is represented by @jenrofe.bsky.social and is interested in picture books and covers.
Mike's Illustrator Page
Mike is represented by @jenrofe.bsky.social and is interested in picture books and covers.
September 10, 2025 at 9:04 PM
🎨 Spotlight on @mikeboldt.bsky.social
Mike's Illustrator Page
Mike is represented by @jenrofe.bsky.social and is interested in picture books and covers.
Mike's Illustrator Page
Mike is represented by @jenrofe.bsky.social and is interested in picture books and covers.
Some stop-motion to promote my new graphic novel series, Box Tales, that launches in September from First Second.
July 23, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Some stop-motion to promote my new graphic novel series, Box Tales, that launches in September from First Second.
Dance like no one is watching! Some new stop-motion animation with a character I hope to use in a future picture book idea. #stopmotion #animation
July 2, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Dance like no one is watching! Some new stop-motion animation with a character I hope to use in a future picture book idea. #stopmotion #animation
Cover reveal for the second book in my new GN series Box Tales. It'll be out on March, 3, 2026. But book 1 will be out later this year on Sept. 16.
May 8, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Cover reveal for the second book in my new GN series Box Tales. It'll be out on March, 3, 2026. But book 1 will be out later this year on Sept. 16.
If you're interested in how I make my graphic novels, I share quite a bit of my behind-the-scenes process on my Substack. #graphicnovels
James Burks on Substack
I needed one other vehicle for Box Tales book three, and it’s Bea’s Mom’s car. I wanted her to have an older car, so I decided on a 1970s Subaru hatchback.
Sometimes, when designing a car, I will bu...
substack.com
May 3, 2025 at 4:18 AM
If you're interested in how I make my graphic novels, I share quite a bit of my behind-the-scenes process on my Substack. #graphicnovels
The first step when doing thumbnails for a graphic novel about camping is to paint a yellow tree on the front of a new sketchbook. This very important step is also called PROCRASTINATION.
May 2, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The first step when doing thumbnails for a graphic novel about camping is to paint a yellow tree on the front of a new sketchbook. This very important step is also called PROCRASTINATION.
I haven’t had much time to post lately, I’ve been in my writing cave working on the story for BoxTales book 3 and revising the outline for my new graphic novel idea, which is going out on sub. I had some free time, so I decided to rig this character in Toonboom and do some simple animation.
April 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I haven’t had much time to post lately, I’ve been in my writing cave working on the story for BoxTales book 3 and revising the outline for my new graphic novel idea, which is going out on sub. I had some free time, so I decided to rig this character in Toonboom and do some simple animation.
Another week, another author school visit adventure. This time I'm off to New Jersey to visit two school this coming week. Looking forward to seeing the students and inspiring them to be creative. Onward!
April 6, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Another week, another author school visit adventure. This time I'm off to New Jersey to visit two school this coming week. Looking forward to seeing the students and inspiring them to be creative. Onward!
Reposted by James Burks
Every single school should have a school library & a school librarian, to help every single child find the books that will make them readers, and give them all the lifelong benefits of literacy. Libraries & librarians change children's lives FOREVER! #SchoolLibrarianDay #SchoolLibraryMonth
April 4, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Every single school should have a school library & a school librarian, to help every single child find the books that will make them readers, and give them all the lifelong benefits of literacy. Libraries & librarians change children's lives FOREVER! #SchoolLibrarianDay #SchoolLibraryMonth
Some highlights from my two Indiana school visits. I was shown so much love and creativity by all the students, teachers, and librarians. Thank you! I'm always amazed that the books I've created have connected with so many people all around the US and the world. I don't take any of it for granted.
April 2, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Some highlights from my two Indiana school visits. I was shown so much love and creativity by all the students, teachers, and librarians. Thank you! I'm always amazed that the books I've created have connected with so many people all around the US and the world. I don't take any of it for granted.
After a day of traveling and hanging out in airports, I made it safely to Indiana for my upcoming author visits. I also had an interesting interaction with the rental car person at the exit gate. I'm not sure what she was talking about because my hair is the same now as it was on my license pic.
March 31, 2025 at 3:59 AM
After a day of traveling and hanging out in airports, I made it safely to Indiana for my upcoming author visits. I also had an interesting interaction with the rental car person at the exit gate. I'm not sure what she was talking about because my hair is the same now as it was on my license pic.
Tomorrow, I'm flying to Carmel, IN, for two author visits next week. I had originally scheduled this school visit trip back in 2020, but that pesky pandemic got in the way. Well, 5 yrs later, it's been rescheduled, and I'm looking forward to entertaining the kids with my witty book-making banter.
March 30, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Tomorrow, I'm flying to Carmel, IN, for two author visits next week. I had originally scheduled this school visit trip back in 2020, but that pesky pandemic got in the way. Well, 5 yrs later, it's been rescheduled, and I'm looking forward to entertaining the kids with my witty book-making banter.
If you live in or near New Haven, CT, come see me this Saturday at IC3.
This weekend I'll be tabling at @indiecomicscreator.bsky.social with my good buddy @jamesburks.bsky.social ! I'll be selling copies of Steamroller Man #1, mini-comics and prints! Looking forward to meeting a bunch of my fellow indie comic makers in person!! I'll be in the foyer at table J4!
March 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM
If you live in or near New Haven, CT, come see me this Saturday at IC3.
A good way to get to know a character is to design their space.
March 12, 2025 at 4:46 AM
A good way to get to know a character is to design their space.
As close as I’ll ever get to meeting one of my biggest influences. #charlesschulz #peanuts
February 25, 2025 at 6:46 AM
As close as I’ll ever get to meeting one of my biggest influences. #charlesschulz #peanuts
Exploring some story beats for an idea I'm working on.
February 22, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Exploring some story beats for an idea I'm working on.
Reposted by James Burks
The wait is almost over!!! Can Do Book 2 is out next week!
February 19, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The wait is almost over!!! Can Do Book 2 is out next week!