Lately, I’ve been seeing references to Weird Al’s picture book, When I Grow Up, all over the place. This weekend, NPR even had an interview with Mr. Yankovic. This interview included a discussion of the delightful illustrations, which are by Wes Hargis.

I’m not surprised at positive reactions to the artwork. After all, before he was Weird Al’s illustrator, Wes charmed all of us with his illustrations for Jackson and Bud’s Bumpy Ride, published in 2009. I especially like the way Wes brought the Bud the bulldog to life. Bud became the mascot for the very first successful cross-country automobile trip in 1903. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in automobile history, adorable bulldogs, or Wes Hargis’s wonderful illustrations!