Typo and Skim

Ages 8 to 12

Have you noticed how things get older? Of course you have – you can’t fail to notice such things. What was shiny and new a while ago is now old or broken or useless. Who’s to blame? Well, living somewhere in our midst are little creatures who make aging their business. In Typo and Skim, we learn about this hidden guild of craftsmen who cause things to fall apart. The main characters, Typo and Skim, are best friends. Like your average schoolboy buddies, they bond over the subjects of boring teachers, strict parents, cleaning their rooms. However, some of Typo and Skim’s teachers have been boring for over 500 years. Their parents actively encourage them to make mistakes, and Typo’s mother is always nagging him that his room isn’t messy enough. Typo and Skim are entropic elves and they support the process of entropy. But when Typo visits the real world, he realizes to his horror that humans don't appreciate their handiwork and, in fact, spend much of their time trying to minimize its effects. With humor, imagination, and fantastically detailed illustrations, Typo & Skim cleverly introduces a concept that we spend very little time talking about. And it is a stirring tribute to friendship as well. 

Typo and Skim swept the major literary awards in the Czech Republic when it was published in 2017. It’s already been translated into ten languages. Justly celebrated, beautifully designed and illustrated, and skillfully translated, Typo and Skim is coming to America. Bright and curious children will love this 120-page illustrated novel.

About the Author

Born in Brno, Tomáš Končinský is a graduate in Screenwriting and Dramaturgy from the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU). He works as a screenwriter and script editor for TV. His is one of the brains behind Kustodka Květa [Květa the Custodian], whose incredible non-adventures from her gallery chair won the Muriel prize for the best comic strip of 2014. He lives in the Czech Republic.Barbora Klárová writes for television and lives in the Czech Republic.Daniel Špaček is an illustrator with over 20 years of experience. Over the years he worked on many different projects and types of work, ranging from illustration, animation, idea making, concept art, through tv channel design, corporate identity design, CG retouch, to creative production, art direction and more. His current universe is fully occupied by illustrating of fairy­tales. He lives in Prague, Czech Republic.

Thomas Hummel is the author of A Journey Through Literary America, an abundantly illustrated coffee table book about the places that inspired some of America's finest writers. In addition to occasional publishing ventures he also works as a printer of high quality illustrated books. He is the author of three children and resides in Los Angeles, California.