Mike Mongo's latest update for The Astronaut Instruction Manual

Jun 30, 2015

The Greatastic Book cover!

Nearly six months ago, myself and Tess Klingenstein began discussing the cover. My publisher Adam Gomolin had connected the two of us. Tess was the editorial manager who was assigned to me and The AIM. 

Tess absorbed all the insights I had and then shared, processed, and time after time brought back greatness. We worked together while honing in on the look, feel, and design of the book. What visual and design cues could we use to get kids—and and grown-ups—to recognize this was no mere book? After all, we were creating an Astronaut Instruction Manual!

What we  wanted was a book cover that spoke to both grown-ups (buyers) and kids (readers), a book cover that outwardly radiated the same confidence, authority, and true fun of the writing to be found within the book. We needed something greatastic.

It was a challenge. And to their credit, San Francisco book designers, MacFadden & Thorpe rose to it.


So there you have it, the official finished book cover for The Astronaut Instruction Manual. Thanks to Adam, Tess, MacFadden & Thorpe, Lori Garver (for the gracious cover blurb, I am honored) and most especially all of you who lent your faith and support into helping us make a cover for a book that is genuinely greatastic.

Mike Mongo