MARCEL’S PERFECT ROLE

READING AGE - 6+
MSRP - $8.95 + S&H
RELEASE DATE - Oct. 30th, 2025
SERIES NAME - Pocket Tales ( Issue #1)
BOOK TYPE - Short Story Zine / Mini Magazine
THEMES - Belonging & Inclusion | Courage to Try Again | Celebrating Strengths

ABOUT THE BOOK - Marcel the manatee has always dreamed of performing in the Sea Revue, the most dazzling show beneath the seven seas. But when a clumsy audition rattles his confidence, he wonders if he can keep the promise he once made to his mama. But with the help of an eight-legged friend, Marcel discovers a new way to shine on stage and a role that’s perfect for him.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ART DIRECTOR / LAYOUT DESIGNER - Carlos Vargas is a Cuban American and LGBTQ+ artist with a love for storytelling in all forms. Since beginning his creative journey in 2018, he has authored children's books, designed board games, and brought cities to life through video projection at festivals across the country. Carlos is the founder of Once Upon a Game, a boutique publishing house for board games and books for all ages, as well as Tiny Blot Studios, his creative studio focused on fine artwork. He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his husband and their wonderful cats.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATORS - Qorina Prameswari is an illustrator with a passion for drawing, especially for children’s books. She used to work as an art teacher, and she has always loved using creativity to connect with young minds. She is originally from Indonesia and studied Art Education in college. For the past five years, she has been building her experience as an illustrator, collaborating on projects with people from different places and backgrounds. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE OF QORINA PRAMESWARI’S WORK

Andreas Rilo is a graphic designer and illustrator whose artistic style spans across various forms of illustration, including cartoon, anime, dark, fantasy, and realism. Most of his works lean toward a strong foundation in hand-drawing techniques, bringing a distinctive touch to his creations. With over five years of experience in the field of digital illustration, he has worked on a wide range of projects tailored to client satisfaction, including posters, music album covers, game artworks, children’s storybooks, and more. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE OF ANDREAS RILO’S WORK