Even Monsters Need Haircuts has just been named to the 2013 Illinois Monarch Award Master List. Thanks, Illinois!
Author Archives: Matthew M
Radez Elementary
Just a few of the terrific pirate and monster pictures from today’s visit to Radez Elementary. Fun day!
Pirates at New Scotland Elementary
Check out the sign made by this team of pirates at New Scotland. Made my day.
Willow Field
The past few schools I’ve visited have had some of the most interesting and creative projects I’ve seen in long time. Just check out what these kids did at Willow Field Elementary.
Even sixth graders need haircuts:
A wall of cakes:
And a wall-sized pirate ship. Great work!
Castleton Elementary
Check out these terrific projects from the kids at Castleton Elementary:
A wall of Lion’s Share cake math projects:
Bean Thirteen self-portraits drawn in the style of the author portrait at the back of the book:
And finally, this amazing cake for everyone who showed up for the big event in the evening:
Great projects, great questions, great food. What a terrific day from start to finish. Thanks to everyone at Castleton who made it happen!
Poestenkill Elementary
Some amazing artwork from the kids at Poestenkill Elementary, spotted during author night last week.
A wall of pirate maps:
Some awesome monsters:
And a real life Uncle Frank’s Pit. Amazing!
Monster Haircuts at Forts Ferry
At a recent visit to Forts Ferry Elementary School I came upon these amazing before/after monster haircut illustrations. What a great project!
Young Hoosier Book Award
Just found out that Even Monsters Need Haircuts has been nominated for the Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award state list. Thanks, Indiana!
Rochester Children’s Book Festival
Just back from a great day at the Rochester Children’s Book Festival, where I caught up with some old friends who also happen to be amazing writers. (Pictured, left to right: Dan Mahoney, some hack, Larry Tuxbury, Jeff Mack, Tedd Arnold, and in the front, Andrew Seniawski)
Backbeard sighted at Split Rock Elementary
The hairy pirate Backbeard was spotted this past Halloween at Split Rock Elementary school, dressed in his principal Todd Freeman costume. Outstanding job, Backbeard!
Texas Bluebonnet List
I just found out that Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! has just been named to the 2012-13 Texas Bluebonnet list. Thanks to all the Texas librarians who supported the book and nominated it for the award!
The world’s coolest art room
At a visit to the University School in Milwaukee this week I had a chance to visit what might be the most interesting, inspiring art room I’ve ever seen. The art teacher, Mr. Geniusz (pronounced “genius”) has created a classroom that’s a work of art in and of itself. The picture above doesn’t begin to do it justice.
I saw an inflatable banana filled with air from 1963. I saw towers and bridges made from popsicle sticks and a life-sized cow designed to fit over a bike. And I saw trains everywhere. One train ran back and forth along a wall-length art history timeline, while others circled overhead in the rafters. Some were part of sculptures, others were sculptures themselves. Everywhere I looked there was something new to discover, and everything in the room looked like it would be fun to try to make.
I can’t tell you how much I wanted to sit down at one of those tables and get to work.
Geekdad and the Fright Brothers
The good people over at Geek Dad have just posted a really nice interview with me and Larry about Benjamin Franklinstein Meets the Fright Brothers.
Eagle Point Elementary
An awesome Backbeard picture from my visit to Eagle Point Elementary today.
The Fright Brothers Arrive!
Yesterday, the UPS man arrived with the first copy of Benjamin Franklinstein Meets The Fright Brothers, hot off the presses. (Larry doesn’t even have his copy yet.) I’m very excited about this one!
It picks up where the first book left off, but I think we were really able to take it in some interesting new directions. Look for it in stores in just a couple weeks.