Springsteen's song 'Outlaw Pete' becomes an illustrated children's book - Gant Daily

Tep Mayo – Fourth Estate Cooperative Contributor

New York City, NY, United States (4E) – Springsteen’s 2009 western-themed epic “Outlaw Pete,” from his “Working on a Dream” album has just been made into a book. Published by Simon & Schuster, the children’s book is illustrated by writer and cartoonist Frank Caruso, and will be released on November 4.

According to Springsteen’s reps, the books will be “based on the celebrated song about a bank-robbing baby whose exploits become a meditation on sin, fate, and free will.” The project recalls another Simon & Schuster book, “Brave Cowboy Bill,” published in 1950 which Springsteen’s mother read to him as a child.

“Outlaw Pete is essentially the story of a man trying to outlive and outrun his sins,” Springsteen writes.

It was Caruso’s idea to create a book based on Springsteen lyrics, “When Bruce wrote ‘Outlaw Pete’ he didn’t just write a great song, he created a great character,” Caruso said.

“The first time I heard the song this book played out in my head. Like Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, Dorothy Gale and for me, even Popeye. Outlaw Pete cuts deep into the folklore of our country and weaves its way into the fabric of great American literary characters.”

Jonathan Karp, President and Publisher of Simon & Schuster said, “Frank Caruso’s illustrations vibrantly capture the spirit of Springsteen’s work.”

With “Outlaw Pete,” the Boss joins Madonna, Jimmy Buffett and Carly Simon as the latest rocker to turn out a title for children’s books.

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