Grammy Winner Lil Nas X Releases His Debut Children’s Book, C IS FOR COUNTRY
Grammy Award–winning music artist Lil Nas X has released his debut children’s book, C IS FOR COUNTRY, published this week in hardcover by Random House Books for Young Readers and as an audiobook by Listening Library.
Genre-bending pop star Lil Nas X, who first rose to prominence with his 12-times platinum country-rap hit, “Old Town Road,” brings his signature style and voice to the page in this entertaining alphabet picture book. With bold, bright illustrations from award-winning artist Theodore Taylor III, C IS FOR COUNTRY follows a young cowboy and his sidekick, Panini the pony, as they use the ABCs to seek out adventure in wide-open pastures, embrace family, and celebrate individuality, all during a single day. As a bonus, artwork throughout the book includes surprises recognizable to Nas’s fans, adding another layer to the reading experience.
Media praise has been pouring in for C IS FOR COUNTRY:
- “[D]elivers on expanding the boundary-busting, genre-blending, self-defining, positive-energy universe that Lil Nas X is building for his youthful fan base . . . Sure to excite the youngest fans of Lil Nas X.” – Kirkus Reviews
- “…utterly adorable.” – Billboard
- “What each letter represents is as eclectic as the artist himself (‘F is for fringe, feathers, and fake fur’), and some deliver messages all kids should hear. (‘Y is for y’all. We’ve got love for everybody, no matter who you are, where you’re from, and what you look like.’)” – Parents Magazine
- “If you’re a fan of Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road,’ you’ll want to bring this ABC picture book to little ones.” – BookRiot
A proud uncle to several young nieces and nephews, Lil Nas X wrote C IS FOR COUNTRY to empower and bring joy to young people. Even in the spare text of an ABC book, his unique voice shines through and subtly reinforces his message of one love and equality as we follow a boy being true to himself from A to Z.
Says Lil Nas X, “C IS FOR COUNTRY goes out to every amazing kid out there who sang along to ‘Old Town Road’ on repeat and helped change my life forever. I hope this book inspires them and makes learning the alphabet a thousand times more fun. I’m so happy with how it turned out, and I can’t wait for the world to see it.”
“We’re so excited to be working with Lil Nas X on this project,” says Sara Sargent, Senior Executive Editor, Random House Books for Young Readers. “He’s one of the most prominent figures in music today and someone many young kids look up to. With C IS FOR COUNTRY, he brings his usual energy to a new medium in a way fans of all ages will enjoy.”
Lil Nas X narrates the C IS FOR COUNTRY audiobook edition. To listen to an audio excerpt, click on the image below.