Wollert local James Sismanes is gearing up for the release of his debut children’s book, The Marvellous Mullabaloos Only Wear Blue.
A screenwriter, musician, Vision One Technologies audio-visual family business-owner, and now author, Mr Sismanes truly is a man of many hats, but his proudest achievement would be that as a father to his 3-year-old son Dante.
“I can definitely tell you that [my son] was my very first test case [for the book]. And he definitely turns in every night and says, ‘Dad, can we read the Mullabaloos? I want to read the Mullabaloos,’” he said.
“And obviously, as a parent, anything that we try and do, ultimately as long as you can make your kids happy, that’s what makes you happy.”
Inspired to challenge the status quo and the social expectations many of us – both children and adults alike – believe we must conform to, The Marvellous Mullabaloos Only Wear Blue is a whimsical tale that encourages readers to celebrate their individuality, self-expression, and the beauty of being different.
As Mr Sismanes states, ‘In a world where children are often influenced by social expectations, this book encourages them to embrace their uniqueness and stand tall in their own identity.’
The book has been a dedicated six years in the making, which Mr Sismanes said involved a thoughtful and considerate process.
“It was really easy to conceive the idea … but six years ago, I didn’t have a 3-year-old boy. I sort of tailored and worked the book over time,” he said.
A winner of The Golden Wizard Book Prize award, which recognises the extraordinary storytellers who bring magic to children’s literature, The Marvellous Mullabaloos Only Wear Blue is jam-packed with vibrant illustrations, rhyming text, and warm, feel-good humour.
An accompanying song, composed by Mr Sismanes with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), will also be available via YouTube and Spotify for little readers to sing and dance along to, creating a truly engaging and interactive experience.
“The sing-along is basically the words of the book sung in melody. So, a lot of the composition is done internally … but I had some assistance from AI to help fill in the blanks and do the things that I don’t have the resources to do as a one-man band,” he said.
For those that have a soft spot for soft toys, main characters Max and Maxine Mullabaloo will also be available for purchase next month, with Mr Sismanes even to gift some to lucky listeners at local school and library readings.
The Marvellous Mullabaloos Only Wear Blue is available now for preorder via Amazon at https://amzn.asia/d/3ou6XpOand is expected to be released on November 2. For more information, visit www.jamessismanes.com.au or follow@jamessismanes on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
