Mike Artell

Imagine a young Mike Artell in the 5th grade. He was always a funny guy right? Well at least so he says. According to Artell he was always the humorous type. "I was always a funny kid… but in the 5th grade, my teacher actually laughed at a funny poem that I wrote. I think in that moment that I knew my humor would be valuable to me." After that experience Mike decided that making people laugh was something that he must continue to work on for the rest of his life. He continued writing humor and has written and illustrated a total of 35 books. In an average year Artell writes two books, conducts six teacher workshops, addresses ten conferences, and visits six libraries or children's museums.What other things does he do in the year? He has personally guided over four-thousand students through the process of writing and illustrating their own picture books.

 

Do the children he teaches inspire him? In fact yes, "…My book Awesome Alphabets was the direct result of an idea some 5th graders gave me. Awesome Alphabets is a book that shows kids how to do really cool lettering. It was the result of some work I was doing as the Author in Residence at a school. We were doing covers for the books they had written and when I showed them how to do really 'cool' lettering they went bonkers. So… I wrote and illustrated a lettering book."

 

How many awards has he won? He was recognized by the Northshore (LA) Chapter of International Reading Association for "exemplary service for the promotion of literacy." He won an award from the American Association of Science for his astronomy book Starry Skies. For the same book he received an award from the Science Books and Films Magazine. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' was an American Bookseller Pick of the List.

 

Lagniappe: Mike Artell lives in Mandeville, Louisiana. He has a BA in Marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University and is a conference speaker for organizations. Artell has experience as: a musician who plays guitar, bass, keyboard and blues harmonica.He is a storyteller who regularly performs original poems and tales. He is a newspaper editorial cartoonist. He writes magazines and greeting cards. He is a key speaker for educational conferences. And was previously the host of his own cartoon show. His favorite book that he has written is Backyard Bloodsuckers.

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