Author/Illustrator Matthew Cordell: “5 Things About Me as a Young Reader”
February 15th, 2011 Posted in Authors & Artists We Love, Photos
Start ‘em when they’re young! When mom is Julie Halpern, an acclaimed author and librarian, and dad is Matthew Cordell, I don’t see how this poor child can grow up to be anything other than a book-lover. Let the brainwashing commence.
Matthew wrote:
Five Things About Me as a Young Reader
1. Picture books I most remember liking were Dr. Seuss and Richard Scarry. And, sad to say, crappy series books like Berenstain bears. Hoo-boy.
2. I remember liking superhero comics very early on. Maybe even before I could actually read. It lasted til around middle school then tapered off. Quite significant here, being comics that made me want to be an artist.
3. I also was obsessed with Archie comics. They were easy to get because the Archie digests were at the grocery store checkout. These I liked for the gags and the weird 50’s vibe. Not so much for the cool factor. But I loved hanging out with these funny, upbeat, wholesome characters.
4. I loved Beverly Cleary books. The Ramona stuff, but especially the Henry books. I remember liking that it wasn’t over in just one book. Like you could still hang out in that world with these characters for the follow-up and so on. I guess like I did with my pals back in Riverdale.
5. There was this book, The Fledgling by Jane Langton, that was burned into my memory for years. I didn’t finish this book (it was required reading in 5th grade, which never really worked for me as a reader… I even fudged a book report on the thing). But I actually liked it and had always regretted never finishing it. Years went on and I eventually forgot the title and wanted more and more to go back and finish it. Last year, I finally sleuthed it out and remembered the name and re-read it. It was very surreal.
Matthew Cordell is a Chicago-based illustrator (and sometimes author, too!) of many terrific books, including: Justin Case (Rachel Vail), Toby and the Snowflakes (Julie Halpern) . . .
Mighty Casey (James Preller), Trouble Gum . . .
.———- 
Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (Julie Sternberg), and more.
