The Nightlife of Jacuzzi Gaskett
The first children's book from multi-genre artist Brontez Purnell, a 2018 winner of the Whiting Award, sweetly portrays a common but rarely narrated childhood experience—having a single parent and taking care of a younger sibling. With illustrations by Brooklyn artist Elise R. Peterson, The Nightlife of Jacuzzi Gasket recounts 11-year-old Jacuzzi's evening activities while he cares for his baby brother and waits for mama's arrival home. He ponders his dad, school, and his future—and when his brother wakes up, Jacuzzi knows just how to get him back to sleep.
BRONTEZ PURNELL is a zine-maker, punk drummer, choreographer, and author of Since I Laid My Burden Down. Originally from Alabama, he lives in Oakland, California.
ELISE R. PETERSON is an artist, writer, and sex educator in Brooklyn. She is the illustrator of How Mamas Love Their Babies.