This is considered "Nudity"? "SORT OUT!!!!!!"

[Samu]

[Edit]
Hi, thank you all for your opinions. I have a better vision now about this issue, and I have the solution.
Since is an Online Book I can make another copy with the Mermaids wearing Jackets, T-shirts, etc (definitely not sea-shells :)) and I can do that with style and good taste without compromising my vision which is going to be safe in the original first webpage. And this way I don't have to let anyone outside. I don't try to teach values, (no one can teach nothing, is the student who wants to learn who choose the teacher. No teacher can teach nothing that a student doesn't want to learn and no teacher can prevent someone from learning. If the person wants to learn something, he'll find the way). So is not about education, is about how I understand and like to portrait my characters. About values in which I believe.
But thanks to the internet era I can do two or more versions. That is so great!
Thank you again!
[Finish editing]

Hi. I writing and illustrating a Children's book and I'm drawing the principal character, which is a Mermaid, naked. My approach to nudity is natural, is not obscene or something and I think that today this is acceptable, but I want your opinion, especially if you have some experience with this issue.

Thank you in advance.

I'll let you with the first two topless illustrations so you can judge

[Chip Valecek]

@zombie-rhythm If it was geared toward an older audience I would say it is fine, but if its geared toward young kids I would suggest adding sea-shells or something to cover it up.

[NessIllustration]

Hey Zombie!

So it really depends on the market you're aiming at. I remember a few years ago seeing the children's book "La tribu qui pue" here in Quebec (translates literally to "the smelly tribe" haha). http://lecarrejaune.canalblog.com/archives/2017/11/11/35858410.html
It's a very cute book featuring a band of children getting naked and playing in the woods. I read an article a bit later deploring the fact that this book wasn't going to be translated to English and sold in the US, and in general that it was too bad that the American market was so old school and purist about such things in children's books.

Similarly, I bet you've never heard of the animated movies Kirikou by Michel Ocelot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rY4iCqltS0
In Quebec and in France, and a few other European countries as well as Africa, those movies where widely shown, broadcasted, I saw them on the TV several times growing up. If you talk to an American, they've never heard of them because the little boy character Kirikou is naked, and so that movie never made it into the US.

To clarify, it's not the children who have a problem with this, but the parents. Publishers just don't want to take the risk of offending parents or getting labelled as a scandalous company.

The short answer is if you're planning to try to publish this in the US, that's never gonna fly, no matter how silly we both know it is...

[burvantill]

I agree with the previous comments. A change that I would suggest as an American mother of a boy, is making the girls less developed. More A cup Less C. The sea shell idea is good. Or bring the fish scales up like a strapless one piece swim suit. It is too bad that it’s a hang up. We used to run around naked all the time as children. You let your kids do that now and you’re “a bad parent”.

[TessaW]

While I wouldn't mind showing this to my own kids, for the children's market in the U.S., yes it would be considered nudity. The only time I've seen breasts in children's books around here were in educational books about puberty, or books that feature breast feeding where they don't show nipples. Occasionally you'll see nudity in children's books, but it's usually a very stylized small child running around with a naked bum or for a book about potty training.

[kaitlinmakes]

I would definitely buy this book for my future children - I love how you handle the human body.

I do agree with whats been said - I don't know if America in the larger sense is ready for this.
BUT, I think there is a market for you if this is the direction you want to go in - maybe smaller publishers though who cater to alternative thinking - the hippies, burners, people with their kids in Waldorf or charter schools, people at the maker fair, dragoncon, tinyhouse supporters, holistic supporters, All of San Francisco, etc etc - from what I've seen these counter-cultures have money and love to support those who share their ideals. I think you could do really well in these groups.

And then maybe in 15-20 years the rest of the culture will appreciate it, and then you'll get a SECOND boom off of making a stand for what you believe in.

Look at Margaret Atwood and The Handmaid's Tale. 30 years after it's publication it aligned with the public conscious, and now she's on fire!

[kaitlinmakes]

@burvantill
Makes a good suggestion about cup size - these mermaids do look like they're 8-12 years old - so maybe make their faces look older, or adjust their endowment?

[Samu]

@chip-valecek not can do! that is exactly what I want to avoid. Old Walt Disney idealizations and prudish messages. I have a natural approach and is not sexualized, so I'm perfectly clear and sure about my work. The doubt is about if I have to stop promoting this as "children's book" or perhaps add a "parental warning" saying that the parents read first and judge themselves.
I think societies like Japan has to be open to this approach, at least for the animes I watch that are targeted to young girls and they are very natural, like "Vividred Operation" for example, and I think is Spain I'm not going to have any problem, but every place is in a different evolution place, and I know that in USA nudity is tricky, and I don't have problem in stop promoting it as Children's book. But I only want to do that if is strictly necessary, I mean, there'd have to be laws about this, don't?

Thank you for your answer. Accordingly to your answer, I suppose that in your opinion I have to change the target potential audience.

[Samu]

@nessillustration said in This is considered "Nudity"?:

La tribu qui pue

Thank you! I definitely going to read "La tribu qui pue", and I'm fron Spain and I was familiar with the films but I never watch them, not that no one makes a fuss about them, they are completely normal here like you said.

I'm going to promote the book in all the world since is an online book, and the nudity is not sexualized nor is a whim or purely aesthetic reasons, I want to convey a natural approach to nudity but I understand that every country is in a different place and I don't mind to change the target potential audience on America, for example.

Your was a very helpful answer, thanks!!!

[Samu]

@burvantill jajajjajaj thank you

[Samu]

@tessaw Thank you! Yes is mostly like I thought, in the USA I have to change the target. I ask myself if I can continue promoting as a Children's book if I add a "Parental Warning". Can be possible?

[Samu]

@kaitlinmakes Thank you! I'll have in mind all that things!!!!
Yes is the direction I want to go. The nudity is not sexualized nor is a whim or purely aesthetic reasons, I want to convey a natural approach to nudity but I understand that every country is in a different place and I don't mind to change the target potential audience on America, for example.

Bytheway, the book is online, in ongoing or in-progress if you prefer, and is totally free. I work every day on it and I updated constantly, so you don't need to buy it!!!
My goal now is to reach as many people as possible and if my work is good and I create an audience, then I can print books, sell prints, merchandise, etc. At the moment only develop the story and reach people.