Ten years ago, a TikTok‑style clip of Trent Landreth sketching a giraffe, elephant and alligator on a trampoline with chalk went viral after his mother posted it on Facebook. The shaky, hand‑held footage captured the sound of cicadas and an earnest concentration that resonated with users, sparking a wave of shares that pushed the video past a million views within four months.
After the surge, the Landreth household shifted from hobby to enterprise. Corey and Melissa Landreth now operate a makeshift storefront inside their kitchen, cutting ink, printing stickers and assembling orders by hand. Each package carries a hand‑stamped sticker that says 'Packed by Trent' so customers know who’s behind the art.
The brand’s product roster includes three published books, a bestseller titled 'Trent’s View of the Zoo', and a line of colouring books, stickers, T‑shirts and ceramic mugs. In 2025, the family secured a collaboration with Old Chicago’s children’s menu, and later that year partnered with Vineyard Vines for an Autism Acceptance Month tee collection featuring a design Trent created with TV star Tanner Smith.
Beyond the glossy packaging, the family’s mission frames the venture. 'When we share our lives, we are not just helping those with special needs,' Corey Landreth told KMUW, noting that the business also offers him financial security as his parents age. The family also opens the local library to visitors, where Trent spends afternoons sketching with a phone book, a favorite medium that allows the ballpoint pen to leave a tactile groove he can feel.
Looking ahead, the Landreths plan to launch a new activity book in early 2027, expected to hit Walmart shelves nationwide. Fans can already pre‑order through the website, and a scheduled tour of meet‑and‑greet events across the Midwest will begin next month, giving supporters a chance to see the artist in person.