Curious George and The Little Prince could now share shelves with Burning Man—The World’s Biggest Playground, thought to be the first children’s book dedicated to the annual desert gathering in Nevada. A crowdfunded project by seven-time burner and father, Peter Armenia, the book introduces children to Burning Man’s experimental community through 56 pages of photographs.

“The book walks through the process of what Burning Man is,” Armenia tells The Creators Project. “I think the audience is clearly for children, but I was told by some folks that it’s a good introduction to Burning Man for adults as well.”

Established in 1986, Burning Man is a celebration of an alternative lifestyle built on 10 principles such as “self-reliance,” “self-expression,” and “inclusion.” Instead of the headliners and beer tents found at music festivals, participants of Burning Man get thrown into the harsh conditions of the Black Rock Desert to create a collaborative and creative social environment for a week.

In Armenia’s view, the artistic expression and self-exploration present throughout the event is a suitable platform for children to experience. “You see all these cars dressed up,” says Armenia, a photographer by trade. “Dragon cars, shark cars, cars of all shapes and sizes. There are people in costumes and lots of people giving out snow cones, licorice, and bacon.”

A page from ‘Burning Man – The World’s Biggest Playground’. Image courtesy of Peter Armenia.

Since 2008, Armenia has gone to Burning Man every year, with the exception of 2011 when his daughter Veronica was born. After her birth, Armenia began making board books explaining the open playa and its ticket to a limitless imagination of pop-up art installations and eccentric dress. Using Veronica as his inspiration, the October 2015 release of Burning Man – The World’s Biggest Playground coincides with her first trip to the event this year.

“One of the things was to expose her to the ethos, which is very giving and cooperative,” he says, mentioning that Veronica’s favorite part of the event was climbing. “It’s a no-judgement zone, very accepting of people of all stripes, colors, and persuasions. I think that’s an ethos we need more of.”

While children are welcome to Burning Man—ages 12 and under are free and kid-friendly campsites are in plenty—many believe that the event also permits a culture inappropriate for tots.

“We leave out the drugs,” says Armenia of the book, which includes all his own personal photos, mostly from the 2013 burn. “That happens at Burning Man, but it’s not relevant to this. That’s where people trip up. You can be a ‘hippie’ and do drugs or all kinds of sexual exploration, but that’s behind the scenes.”

Alongside the Burning Man organization’s backing, 142 donors funded the book’s publication. Having surpassed his funding goal of $9,000, 1,000 copies of the book are currently at the printers. If successful, Armenia thinks there’s possibility to work with a publisher. “It feels good to get affirmation,” he explains. “I want to bring the notion that Burning Man is something that kids can be involved in. I’m happy to engage in that debate and try to enlighten people.”

Asks Armenia, “Who says it has to all be about Disneyland?”

The Man is usually burnt the Saturday night before Labor Day. Image courtesy of Peter Armenia.

 

For $19.00, get your copy of Burning Man – The World’s Biggest Playground here.

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