Sean the Stick

We're not sure what to call Sean the Stick. Is it an existential children's tale? A weird book for all ages? Is it a story about a person who becomes best friends with a stick? Is it a love story about nature? Nature versus nurture? This beautiful hardcover book combines a Kevin Sampsell short story told in simple (yet emotionally vast) short sentences with colorful drawings by Emma Jon-Michael Frank, an artist whose celebrated works of vulnerability, humor, and empathy have garnered their work an enthusiastic and growing audience over the years.

Where did this book come from?

About two years ago, Kevin asked Em if they would make some art for the story, Sean (which was originally published in Diagram). Wanting to keep the project a secret, Kevin finished other projects in the meantime until finally putting the book together to drop on unsuspecting readers. This is the first book on Future Tense published with full color art. We hope it makes you smile.

“Sean the Stick is a story I will read with my kids over and over, delighting in the heartfelt and powerful illustrations, and sinking into the deeper message. This book has inspired so many deep and beautiful conversations about life, love, change, and the passage of time. It’s a book for us all, at any age, about the human condition. Kevin Sampsell has offered us a timeless gift.” Chelsea Bieker, author of Madwoman

“Sean the Stick is a gift: a beautifully illustrated book about friendship and perspective and time. It feels too simple to say ‘I don’t look at sticks the same way after reading,’ but it’s true — this book helps me imagine the world into what it can be.” Erica Berry, author of Wolfish

“A slyly deep story about friendship, generosity, nature, and the power of imagination that will entertain children as much as it will dazzle adults. And to think it all started from a single sentence.” Aaron Gilbreath, essayist, journalist, collagist, dad

“Kevin Sampsell is the only living writer that could make me care about a child and their stick. I just want to crawl into his brain and see what other quirky yet heartfelt stories are in there.” Katherine Morgan, Grand Gesture Books

“I love this little book. Now, I want a stick friend of my very own.” Carla Crujido, author of The Strange Beautiful

“Good for you. Good for your kids. Good for the earth. Beautiful.” Shane Kowalski, author of Small Moods

“Thank you so much, Kevin! We all LOVE Sean the Stick!!!!” Karen Russell, author of Orange World and Other Stories

“I like Sean the Stick very very very much. What a surprise. You contain multitudes. Poetry. Ageless.” Susie Bright, author, editor, legend

“I think I’ll read this book to my daughters many times over the years and each time they’ll understand it differently, and so will I.” Adam Robinson, Publish Genius Press

“Read this and try not to cry from the joy, full body feelings of tenderness, connection with nature, and awareness this book brings. I wish I could buy this for everyone I know. Such a beautiful work.” Dasha Shleyeva, Glacial Milk Arts

“A perfect story.” Felicity Fenton, author of User Not Found

Kevin Sampsell is a Portland-based writer, collage artist, bookseller, and publisher. His book of collages and poems, I Made an Accident, came out in 2022, and his novel, Baby in the Night, will be released in 2025.