New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers | Simon & Schuster (June 2022)

Hardback.

New.

SNL writer and comedic rising star Julio Torres takes readers on a journey through the lives and intimate dramas of some of the unsung shapes of our time as inspired by his HBO special My Favorite Shapes. It's The Book with No Pictures meets everyday objects.

Meet Julio Torres and his My Favorite Shapes special in this video! In 2019, Julio Torres released My Favorite Shapes, his Lorne Michaels-produced special on HBO, and immediately garnered a cult following.

In his special, Torres conducts an elaborate show-and-tell that offers a backstory to a wide array of "shapes." With its unusual, absurdist humor and decidedly human narratives explored within the framework of a universal concept, Torres's performance is the perfect inspiration for a picture book that completely upends expectations about the everyday shapes and objects in our own lives. While this story is not a direct interpretation of that special, the connection between that piece of work and this story of household objects will be evident to his many fans.

I Want to Be a Vase explores the intricate, complicated emotions of childhood (belonging, jealousy, fear of change, excitement) through humor and metaphor, appealing to a crossover audience while being primarily directed towards a young readership. Kids will see their emotions reflected in plucky Plunger, nervous Vacuum, sassy Sink, and helpful Hair Dryer.

Julio Torres is a comedian, the creator of the HBO special My Favorite Shapes, and has written for Saturday Night Live. He’s also one of the masterminds behind Los Espookys, HBO’s Spanish-language comedy about a group of horror enthusiasts. Visit him on Instagram @SpacePrinceJulio.

Julian Glander is a 3D animator, designer, and illustrator. Mostly self-taught, he has created work for Disney, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Adult Swim, and The New York Times. He is also the creator of the video game Art Sqool and the squishy comics collection 3D Sweeties. Visit him at Glander.co.