Dear readers,
This unprecedented moment has brought with it an unending stream of new challenges. At The Believer, we wanted to do something for our friends who suddenly find themselves with kids home from school and endless days to fill. We put our heads together over a remote video conference call and came up with The Believer Jr., a semi-regular, limited-run newsletter that we hope you will share with your kids or forward to the parents in your life.
In this first installment, we have adaptable activities for kids ages 4—8, along with links to stories from the latest issue for parents to read (if and when you get a moment to yourselves). We are also excited to be hosting an all-ages zine making workshop with Malaka Gharib this Friday, which you can learn more about below. Finally, we would love to hear from you and your children. We’ve created a new email address, junior@believermag.com, where you can tell us what you think, share the creative projects keeping your family busy, and have your kids pitch us stories—details on what we’re looking for are at the bottom of this newsletter.
Stay safe and wash your hands.
Love,
The Editors of The Believer
This Friday, we invite you to create a quaranzine in a free workshop led by comics artist Malaka Gharib, author of the critically-acclaimed I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir. Bring your own paper and pen, and meet us at 7pm ET via Zoom. Share your work on social media with the hashtag #Quaranzine, and tag @believermag.
Try This At Home
Did you know?
In 1928, people used to record themselves talking and send these recordings to friends in the mail. That’s 90 years before the invention of Tik Tok!
Activity
Think of your favorite TV or book character. What kind of voice message would they leave for their best friend? Record it, and see if your parents can guess whose voice you were imitating.
For the grown-ups: Read Laura Preston’s essay on the history of voice messages here.
Try This At Home
Did you know?
Chocolate and eggplant? Gelato with carrots? There is a chef in New York who makes desserts out of vegetables.
Activity
What would you put on your ideal sundae? Print off the above illustration (find a bigger version [here]) and color it in, adding your ideal toppings. Sprinkles? Donuts? French fries? The sky is the limit! Have your parents post the result on social media with the hashtag #believerjr so we can see your creations.
For the grown-ups: read Sam Korman’s interview with Chef Brooks Headley here.
Try This At Home
Activity
How would you decorate your dream bedroom? Would you fill it with toys? A jungle gym? Wall-to-wall fish tanks? Secret tunnels? To get you started, we’ve created a blank wall for you to print off and color in however you want (grab a bigger version [here]). Have your parents post the results on social media with the hashtag #believerjr so we can see them!
For the grown-ups: read Weike Wang on how to furnish an apartment here.
Interview
Erika Medina is a Mexican illustrator and art instructor living and working in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her first picture book, Margot and the Moon Landing, comes out next week. Order it here.
What is your favorite thing to draw? Plants, angry kids, and scary things like ghosts.
What book did you reread the most as a kid? La Domadora de Miedos (The Tamer of Fears) by Guadalupe Alemán Lascurain and Panic at the Cemetary by Bertrand Gauthier.
Deep sea or outer space? Deep sea.
Panda bears or koala bears? Koalas.
Pizza or Tacos? REAL tacos, please.
What advice do you have for future artists? Do not compare yourselves to other artists. Be patient, trust (respect) the process. There are no quick fixes.
The Believer Jr. wants you! Many years ago, in the The Believer’s early days, we ran a series of short essays in which adults—parents and family friends—profiled the children in their lives. These pieces were akin to a literary mark on a growth chart, such as this one, about Esme, who was learning to somersault backwards, and this one about basement-drumming phenom Spencer Tweedy, son of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy
Now, with kids distance-learning and unable to interact with their teachers IRL, we wanted to give them an opportunity to muse on their favorite adults: teachers, principals, cafeteria workers, support staff, etc. If your kid is interested in profiling a favorite grown up from school, please send pieces of any length to junior@believermag.com.
