[Moonlit Musings] Emerald City Comic-Con, Bunso Animations, Judge Hatchett, & More!
April 2025
April is Earth Month, and we’re celebrating with an earth-friendly freebie! Our featured giveaway this month is Underwater Escape, a beautifully written and illustrated eco-adventure that reminds us all about the importance of protecting our planet through the lens of a curious little hermit crab who searches for a way to inspire the humans she bumps into on land. Scroll all the way down to check it out!
We’ve also given our website a spring refresh—thanks to the creative eye of our client, illustrator Abi Fox. Swing by moonbeamlitmedia.com to see what’s new, and explore the world of Moonbeam with fresh eyes!
Moonbeam Representing at Emerald City Comic-Con!
Moonbeam’s co-founder Jesse Byrd and our client, author-illustrator Rev Valdez, each had the honor of speaking on panels at Emerald City Comic Con 2025—the Pacific Northwest’s premier destination for comics and pop culture fans. Both panels highlighted the power of storytelling, community, and creativity—and we’re proud to have been a part of the conversation.
Jesse lent his voice to “Keep Bans Off Our Books”, a timely and passionate discussion led by the Children’s Book Council (CBC) Graphic Novel Committee, tackling the urgent issue of book banning and the critical need to protect young readers’ access to diverse stories.
Meanwhile, Rev took the stage for “Draw with the Artists”, moderating a hands-on panel where talented illustrators shared the process behind designing their unforgettable characters. Rev taught the audience how to draw his beloved character Bunso from the Bunso Meets… series!
Media Adaptation Spotlight on Bunso!
Speaking of our favorite little menace, Bunso, and the monsters he meets, we’re working on developing an animated adaptation of Rev Valdez’s book series. Rich with heart and humor, Bunso introduces young readers to the magical world of Filipino folklore—where mischievous spirits and tiny tricksters come to life. The series begins with Bunso Meets a Mumu and Bunso Meets a Duwende, published by Paw Prints Publishing, and we can’t wait to bring these stories to screen for spooky- and animation-loving kids.
Check out some fun animations (hand-drawn by Rev himself!) in the reel above!
And if you didn’t know—“Bunso” means “youngest child” in Tagalog!
Kids Are Consuming More Short-Form Video Than Ever Before
According to Dubit Trends (2024), time spent on short-form video platforms like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels has surged among children ages 8–14, with over 65% of screen time now dedicated to short-form content. This shift has even outpaced traditional long-form programming and streaming platforms in this age group.
For creators and IP owners, this signals the need to build multi-platform storytelling strategies that introduce characters and worlds in snackable formats first—especially for new IP. Engaging kids where they already are opens doors for long-term audience growth, merchandise appeal, and trans-media success.
For Moonbeam, short-form can be an important stepping stone to building brand familiarity, emotional connection, and eventually, demand across other formats!
Student Voices Take the Spotlight in NYC Book Launch Event
As part of our Story-Making Workshops, presented in partnership with New York Edge, young storytellers took the stage at Strand Book Store to debut three original books. During the event, students described their stories, signed books, and spoke about their creative process.
Valentina Ragusano, of Welcome to Candyland, shared:
It feels amazing. I get to see what I accomplished and what my classmates accomplished.
The workshop, taught and led by Jesse, introduced students to the behind-the-scenes process of making a book—from concept to publication.
“This is really supposed to help them see themselves as authors. To lift the hood, understand the process, and hopefully feel more empowered.”
The books, each scripted and illustrated by professional collaborators, are now available on Amazon:
A Dragon’s Tail – Written by Jessica Marano, illustrated by Tran Dac Trung
Welcome to Candyland – Written by Natalie Obando, illustrated by Tania Ortiz
A Second Chance! – Written by D’Ann Jordan, illustrated by Ghazal Qadri
New Client Spotlight: Media & Law Trailblazer, Judge Glenda Hatchett
We’re thrilled to welcome the incredible Judge Glenda Hatchett to Moonbeam as we represent her inspiring children’s book exploring bold careers! A trailblazer in law and media, Judge Hatchett is best known as the star of the long-running, two-time Emmy-nominated court show Judge Hatchett, and The Verdict with Judge Hatchett. Before her time on the bench, she was the highest-ranking African American woman at Delta Air Lines and served as Chief Presiding Judge of the Fulton County Juvenile Court in Georgia—the first African American woman to do so. She is founding partner at the national law firm, The Hatchett Firm. We look forward to bringing her powerful voice and message to a new generation of readers.
In Honor of Earth Month, Check Out Underwater Escape!
Kids from PS 41Q in New York worked together to devise Underwater Escape, a story about a curious crab, locked in a cage, who dreams of what life might be like on land. Making her dreams come true means facing the fact that not all aspects of surface life are as she imagined them. The tenacious crustacean makes a surprising new friend and searches for a way to inspire the humans she bumps into on land.
The book was scripted by professional author Tracy Blom and illustrated by Kruti Desai. Tracy’s favorite part of the book:
If the ocean and land are both connected
If one falls apart, won’t both be affected?
She couldn’t stay silent and simply sit by
She had to do something; at least she could try.
Click here (or the cover image above) to scroll through!
Catch you in the next issue!
Jesse & Rebecca