OFF THE WALL: MAKING STUFF TOGETHER, by Juana Martinez-Neal and Molly Idle, Neal Porter Books, Aug. 4, 2026, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 3-8)
Off the Wall: Making Stuff Together, by Juana Martinez-Neal and Molly Idle, is a story about art, collaboration, and happy accidents.
Best friends Juana Martinez-Neal and Molly Idle know a thing or two about collaborative art. After teaming up to illustrate Julie Fogliano’s I Don’t Care, they set out to explore what it takes to make stuff together!
Off the Wall is a joyful celebration of that very process. The day begins with one little girl, alone with a wall and a bucket of chalk. Then a friend comes along to play tic-tac-toe. Before you can say “look out!”, there are five friends, a cat, a dog, and a splattered ice cream cone. Chalk is flying, hands are getting dirty, and the art on the wall gets bigger and, more importantly, better. —Synopsis provided by Neal Porter Books
What’s better than making a mess by yourself? Making one with your friends! Off the Wall is a celebration of the collaborative process and all the happiness mistakes, and creativity that comes with it.
Juana Martinez-Neal and Molly Idle exude joy through their sparse text and fluorescent characters. Their illustrations are full of energy and movement. And their fast-paced, stream-of-consciousness, turn-on-a-dime narrative will resonate especially with parents of kids who move from one thing to the next at what seems like break-neck speed.
Off the Wall is an exciting and endearing look at friendship and the magic that comes with letting curiosity and imagination drive play.
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