Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-11-05
The music of Widespread Panic has drawn generations of fans together across the country for more than 40 years. Now, the first children's book drawing inspiration from the Southern rock/jam band, The Widespread Alphabet, has been published, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign.
Written by Scotia, NY teacher and author Pete Mason, The Widespread Alphabet is a must for Widespread Panic fans of any age. Children are able to learn the alphabet through vibrant drawings illustrated by Pittsburgh artist Mark Serlo, with the art on each page evoking Widespread Panic connections, along with easy-to-read text for kids, parents, and grandparents.
"The lyrics of Widespread Panic lend themselves to incredible imagery thanks to the storytelling nature of many of the band's songs. Mark Serlo captures the spirit of each song vividly, and working with him on this book was a fantastic collaboration that has produced a book I hope Widespread Panic fans will enjoy for years to come." – Pete Mason
Fans will catch various nods to the band through the songs referenced on each page, as well as tributes to Georgia, a notable fan or two, and characters from the songs of Widespread Panic.
Listen to a Spotify playlist for The Widespread Alphabet featuring many songs illustrated in the book.
Shortly after publishing his fourth children's book (Counting Down the Number Line, 2020), Mason began work on The Widespread Alphabet and teamed up with Pittsburgh artist Mark Serlo, who signed on in 2025 to create the illustrations for each page.
For this book, Mark switched styles, considering artwork that was approachable for children, a variation from Mark's poster art. Said Serlo, "In teaching children to paint in my studio each Saturday morning, I've found that being loose and not adhering to strict rules appeals to them more, while I do teach some strict rules of drawing, still allowing them some loose colorful sloppy time to increase their imagination. We are appealing to parents with kids that are even younger as a rule with an alphabet book, projecting a mantra of 'stay loose and allow imagination to fill in the rest.'"
As for Mason, this marks his fifth children's book, one that draws from his background as a special education teacher of more than 15 years. He notes, "My love of Widespread Panic's music and the band's place in my life led me to creating a book I am truly proud of and grateful for the work that has been put in over the past year by Mark to bring these pages to life."
Adding, "Together, we hope this book will be a must-have item on every bookshelf for Widespread Panic fans of all ages, and bring the joy-filled music of the band to the children as they learn the ABCs."
Get your copy of The Widespread Alphabet on Etsy or PhanArt's Weebly store, along with other children's books by Mason.
Pete Mason is a teacher and writer living in Scotia, NY, with his wife and stepson. The author of seven books, The Widespread Alphabet marks his fifth children's book, combining elements of music and lyrics into an educational book for children. He promotes artists through PhanArt shows, highlighting music-inspired fan creations. Pete serves on the board of directors for The Mockingbird Foundation, supporting music education through a competitive grant process across the country. He is publisher of NYS Music and coaches youth soccer.
More information: PhanArt | NYS Music
An artist since childhood, Mark Serlo began his work in the rock and roll industry designing promotional posters for countless acts at the Boulder Theater and the Fox Theatre in Boulder, CO. Since then, he has moved on to oil painting and designing merchandise and posters for lots of acts we love, including the Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic, Phil Lesh and Friends, Terrapin Crossroads, the Disco Biscuits, Umphrey's McGee, and many more.
More information: Serlo Studios on Facebook | Facebook Group | Serlo Studios Store
