Dillon Helbig’s goal was simple. But his marketing strategy—hiding his self-made comic book in a library—was next-level. Now the Idaho second-grader is getting national attention for both his story and his ingenuity.
Eight-year-old Dillon started writing books when he was five. Last winter, he decided others needed to hear his story. So he sneaked his 80-some-page work onto a shelf in his hometown library.
Now the charming handmade graphic novel (novel in comic-book format), The Adventures of Dillon Helbig’s Crismis written by “Dillon His Self,” has a 50+-person waiting list.
Anyone wondering how an eight-year-old concocted such an idea must look no further than Dillon’s father, Alex. “My dad did this when he was a kid and kept doing it,” Dillon says.
According to a Good Morning America interview, the elder Helbig pulled a similar stunt when he was young. An aspiring musician, Alex Helbig made 100 copies of an album and hid it in various CD stores.
When Dillon’s book antic hit social media, it quickly went viral.
The illustrated book depicts a Christmas escapade that includes an exploding star, a time-travel portal, and a giant turkey—because, well, the main character travels to 1621, the year of the very first Thanksgiving, of course.
Dillon self-published his story in a red-cover notebook and illustrated it using colored pencils.
“I wanted to put my book in the library center since I was five,” he told Good Morning America. “I always had a love for books and libraries.”
Asked why he stashed his comic among the other storybooks at the Ada Community Library, Dillon says, “I wanted people to read it.”
Dillon’s mother, Susan, called the library. She intended to let workers know not to throw the book away—that Dillon meant it as a gift to his local library.
Branch manager Alex Hartman assured her the book was safe. Hartman had the staff catalog Dillon’s book. Now it’s an official library volume, spine stickers and all.
“We’re just hoping that . . . children find inspiration to write their own stories and share those with other people,” Hartman told The Post. “I just think it’s a good demonstration to share with other kids.”
The library also gave Dillon a newly minted honor: the aptly named Whoodini Award for Best Young Novelist.
Another book by the aspiring author is already generating interest: The Jacket Eating Closet is based on Helbig’s kindergarten days.
And how does Dillon’s Christmas adventure end? Spoiler alert! It doesn’t. The last page reads: “We’ll be right back in the next book.”
Why? Sharing what is important to you is admirable. Hebrews 13:16 says, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have.” Sharing the gospel should be a focus for every Christian.
