Bruce Springsteen Writes Picture Book for Adults Called Outlaw Pete

Posted on August 28, 2014

Here's an interesting new title for fall. Bruce Springsteen has written his first children's book. The book is called Outlaw Pete. The book is based on the song of the same name from his 2009 album Working on a Dream.

The song itself was inspired by a story that Bruce's mother read to him every night. The book was called Brave Cowboy Bill, which was published in 1950 by Simon & Schuster. Outlaw Pete is a legend about a criminal who begins breaking the law while he's still in diapers. His deeds just get worse as he gets older.

The book is a picture book, but it's not for children. It's a picture book for adults. Springsteen says Pete is a man who is trying to "outlive and outrun his sins." Cartoonist and writer Frank Caruso had the idea of turning the song in to a book, basing it on the lyrics that Springsteen wrote. Caruso created the artwork for the book.

Springsteen is a huge fan of all things Western, including Mexican music, Native American art and classic Western movies. Picture books for adults are a recent book trend with such titles as Go the F--- to Sleep by Adam Masnbach and Goodnight iPad by Ann Droyd selling quite well. The irreverent titles may look like children's books, but they are not.

The book will hit shelves on November 4, 2014, and would make a perfect gift for any Springsteen fan. You can see Springsteen perform "Outlaw Pete" at Hyde Park in 2009 in the video below.