Ridgewood Illustrator Helps Create Children's Book About Marxism

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — A village illustrator and an author have teamed up to create a children's book about Marxism entitled "Little Karl."

E.A. Santoli is an illustrator and adjunct professor at Bergen Community College. His work is a combination of academic-based painting and Japanese anime and manga art.

"Little Karl" attempts to explain the struggles, solutions, and views that Marxism is, in theory, supposed to help solve.

The main character, a child named Karl, after the system's founder, Karl Marx, constantly questions the world around him. As he walks around town one morning, he encounters a homeless man, a child selling bread, a starving puppy, and other characters.

The book attempts to frame Marxism in a way children can understand and take notice of in their daily lives.

Santoli and the book's author, M. Earl Smith, will be at Bergen Community College Wednesday from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Smith will read the book to children and discuss it with them afterwards. Santoli will write down their ideas and illustrate them.

Children will also have the chance to take care of a puppy at a pretend veterinarian office.

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Photo: E.A. Santoli of Ridgewood — Courtesy of E.A. Santoli