Jenny Mattheson

Biography

Jenny Mattheson is the illustrator of The Mouse, the Cat and Grandmother's Hat by Nancy Willard and Happy to be Girls by Sarah Davies, as well as others. She has been sharing her love of illustration with kids through her Picture Book Illustration class at Malcolm X Elementary School.

"I love seeing how kids interpret stories! Most of them are
so free with their ideas…Like, who would have thought to put a pink boa on that penguin? I get so inspired every time. It's a trade—I teach them and they teach me."

Jenny Mattheson is a Pennsylvania native whose parents, both
part-time artists, exposed her to the arts at a young age. When she was 10, she was given a huge sketchbook which she used as a visual diary throughout her childhood. She drew pictures of her friends, her enemies, her dream house, even some talking chickens and teenage mermaids.

She currently works out of her home studio in Berkeley, CA. . She has just had her latest book, Mrs. O'Leary's Cow, by Mary Ann Hoberman published.

Honorarium
$500 per full-day school visit (includes travel expenses)

Program description
My program is a fun, interactive presentation that takes the audience through the five steps of creating a picture book. Each step involves visual aids, from paints and brushes to my final paintings, and everything in between.

Every session includes two drawings, done in front of the group. All drawings created during the programs are for the school to keep.

Size and number of groups
I prefer to work with groups of under 100 children, if possible. I will give up to three presentations a day. I like to speak in an auditorium or library that can be darkened for my slides, although if that is not possible, I do offer presentations without a slide show.

Number and length of presentations
A full day of programs includes three assembly programs, or two assemblies and one smaller group workshop. The assemblies are 40 minutes for grades K-1 and 45 minutes for grades 2-6. A half-day is two presentations total. The workshop is 50-60 minutes long and works best with 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. Preparation for the workshop should include familiarity with my books and professional background so that the students are as prepared as possible ahead of time.

Equipment needs

• Kodak carousel slide projector and screen
• Microphone and a table in the front of the room where I can display my materials (hand-held or lapel microphone preferred)
• Room that can be made dark
• Easel and drawing paper

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What people say about Jenny Mattheson
"It was a real delight to see how Jenny illustrates her books. She does a wonderful job of sharing her talents with the students and truly relates to all ages. The students even get pointers on how they can draw better. This is a program all school age children will enjoy!”
—Bette Zino, Reading Specialist, Mt. Diablo School District, California

"Can you be our art teacher?”
—Eric, 3rd grader, Ritchie Elementary School, West Virginia

"That was a great exssembly!”
—Austin, 1st grader, Elm Grove Elementary School, West Virginia

How to Order Books for a Visit
Order from this booklist 

Selected Titles

Christmas Morning
by Cheryl Ryan
Illustrated by Jenny Mattheson
(Scholastic, 2004)

“…Accompanied by a picture-perfect two-story house in sugar plum hues, the title introduces a reindeer-drawn sleigh with a roly-poly Saint Nick at the reins, toy-filled stockings and a dramatic tussle between a doll, Rat King and Nutcracker, before arriving at a cheerful, peaceful Christmas morning…”
—Publishers’ Weekly

The Great Tulip Trade
by Beth Wagner Brust
Illustrated by Jenny Mattheson
(Random House, 2005)

Anna’s father gives her the most wonderful present for her birthday—eight beautiful tulips! But tulips in Holland in the 1600s are more precious than gold or jewels, and everyone who walks by the house wants to trade her for one!

Happy to Be Girls
by Sarah Davies
Illustrated by Jenny Mattheson
(Penguin, 2005)

With an energetic rhyming text and luminous illustrations that showcase the diversity of girls at work and play, this is a book to make any girl happy just to be herself, and makes a perfect gift for a favorite girl, whether little or all grown up.

Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow
by Mary Ann Hoberman
(Little, Brown, 2007)

Mary Ann Hoberman has adapted the well-known song based on the true story of the Great Chicago Fire, There'll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight, into a funny and memorable story. When Mrs. O'Leary leaves her lantern in the barn, the cow kicks it over and starts a fire. Hoberman's humorous text and Jenny Mattheson's luminous illustrations keep this picture book comic and non-threatening, and, of course, the fire is put out in the end by 10 heroic firefighters.

No Bows!
by Shirley Smith Duke
Illustrated by Jenny Mattheson
(Peachtree Publishers, 2006)

As she goes through her daily routine, a small but strong-minded girl makes her preferences known in no uncertain terms. And some of her choices may surprise you!

The Mouse, the Cat, and Grandmother's Hat
by Nancy Willard
Illustrated by Jenny Mattheson
(Little, Brown, 2003)

“In her strong, stylish debut, Mattheson supplies soft-focus scenes in warm browns and luminous purples that add both a feeling of intimacy and sidesplitting details…”
— Kirkus Reviews

Forthcoming Titles

Tooth on the Loose by Susan Elya (Spring, 2008)

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