JOHN MANDERS

Fergus and the Night-Demon by Jim Murphy (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Clarion Books (September 18, 2006)

ISBN-10: 0618339558 ISBN-13: 978-0618339556

Acclaimed nonfiction author Jim Murphy now turns his hand to spinning yarns. Fergus O'Mara, a resourceful Irish lad, is especially clever at avoiding work. On his way to an evening of fun, he encounters the dreaded Night-Demon. Fergus keeps on walking, but this demon means business, and our hero will have to work hard to get himself out of a "grave" situation. With haunting humor and high spirits, Jim Murphy and John Manders have created a suspenseful tale that's scary enough for a Halloween read-aloud and funny enough to be enjoyed at any time.

Kirkus Reviews : "Murphy turns his honed nonfiction hand to spinning folklore...just the right jaunty exaggeration and haunting humor."
Booklist, ALA : "Murphy's tale is pleasingly full of blarney, and Manders' comic illustrations offset the menace of the night-demon."
School Library Journal : "Children will appreciate this humorous ghost story; it makes a good read-aloud choice."
Publishers Weekly : "An original tale in which a...lad from the Emerald Isle uses wit...to wiggle out of a spooky scrape."
Horn Book Guide : "The tale's a lively one, with clever Fergus repeatedly besting the monster, and it's a good choice for reading aloud."

Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies by Carolyn Crimi (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Candlewick (September 13, 2005)

Step aboard, buccaneers and book lovers! Comically dramatic illustrations set the tone for this humorous, hare-raising adventure on the high seas.

"BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES!"

Aboard a ship called the Salty Carrot sails a wild, rowdy band of Buccaneer Bunnies. Their leader, Barnacle Black Ear, is the baddest bunny brute of all time, but his son refuses to perform his proper pirating duties. Henry would rather read books than shout "Shiver me timbers!" or make prisoners walk the plank — even if it means he has to swab the decks as punishment. But when a crashing, bashing, thrashing wildcat of a storm threatens the Salty Carrot and its crew, will Henry and his landlubbin' library save the day?

Humphrey, Albert, and the Flying Machine by Kathryn Lasky (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (September 1, 2004)

Humphrey and Albert think Princess Briar Rose's party is bo-o-oring--after all, everyone falls asleep! But when the brothers are the first to awake nearly one hundred years later, they realize the royal court has been enchanted--and only a kiss can wake up the princess and break the curse. Refusing to do any smooching (Yech!), they go in search of a handsome prince. Instead, they find Daniel Bernoulli, inventor of an incredible flying machine. But can the curse be broken by an ordinary inventor?

In this hilariously fractured fairy tale, science comes to the rescue!

From Booklist ... Large in scale, comical in characterization, and dramatic in composition, the spirited watercolor, gouache, and pencil artwork will help draw children into this lighthearted blend of fact and fiction that's good for reading aloud. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Minnie's Diner: A Multiplying Menu by Dayle Ann Dodds (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Candlewick; 1st edition (July 8, 2004)

ISBN-10: 0763617369 ISBN-13: 978-0763617363

With a singsong rhythm, comical illustrations, and a down-home flavor, Dayle Ann Dodds and John Manders serve up a humorous lesson in multiplication.

Down on the farm one morning, Papa McFay orders his sons to hop to their chores. But from Minnie's kitchen wafts a smell that gets the boys itchin', and one by one, they succumb to the call of that sweet aroma. Each brother arrives at Minnie's twice as hungry as his brother before — and looking for twice as much grub. Now what will happen when Papa McFay finds out his sons are gone and the chores are not done? The boys will be in double trouble for sure!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly ...With Dodds's (The Great Divide) bouncy rhymes and Manders's assured gouaches, the book takes on the vivacity of a vintage animated cartoon; it's easy to imagine a musical score toodling along as Minnie scurries about and the sinuous, ghostly line of cooking fragrance draws the boys into the diner. ..Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal ....Told in jaunty rhymes with varied type sizes for emphasis, this funny story is illustrated with colorful cartoons done in gouache. Children will appreciate the humor and groan with delight when they recognize the math pattern and anticipate ever-larger amounts of food.–Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist ... The clear, cartoon-style gouache illustrations have fun with the scenes of the farmyard and the diner, especially Minnie's increasingly heavy, teetering tray. By the time Papa brings the numbers up to 32, kids will be counting the dishes and enjoying the math, the slapstick, and the words. Not only do fries rhyme with pies, but double rhymes with trouble. Hazel Rochman Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Prancing, Dancing Lily by Marsha Diane Arnold (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Dial (March 30, 2004)

All over the world—from New York City to Spain to Senegal—Lily learns new dances and makes wonderful friends. But none of the dances are quite right for a cow, and soon Lily starts to miss home. Will she ever find a place where she fits in?

Spirited, funny, and utterly uplifting, Prancing, Dancing Lily is sure to delight anyone who has ever felt different from the herd.

From School Library Journal Arnold's amusing characters and clever text come to life through Manders's comical cartoon illustrations. Peppered with playful humor, his pencil-sketch and paint technique gives the images a distinctive look. The book is well designed from the clean pages to the endpapers, which provide a map plotting Lily's travels. This great read-aloud provides a subtle message and a guaranteed good time.--Julie Roach, Malden Public Library, MA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Lewis and Clark: A Prairie Dog for the President (Step into Reading) by Shirley Raye Redmond (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Library Binding: 48 pages Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (May 27, 2003)

ISBN-10: 0375911200 ISBN-13: 978-0375911200

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sends Lewis and Clark out west to explore. He tells them to make maps. He tells them to draw pictures and collect plants. Most importantly, he tells them to send presents! What kind of present is good enough for a president? Beginning readers will truly enjoy reading about this fun and little-known slice of American history.
Editorial Reviews

From Booklist The history is handled with a light touch in this Step into Reading title about the American West, and Manders' colorful cartoon-style art is a perfect match for the storytelling. President Jefferson asks Lewis and Clark to go west, and "make maps, and explore rivers . . . collect plants and draw wild animals . . . send presents." Comic scenes show the explorers trying to catch buffalo and grizzly bears to send to the president, but they settle on the cute, little, wild dog, which scouts take back to Jefferson together with a huge load of plants, skins, and animals. Other than Sacagawea, who is a big help ("she talked and traded with the Indians they met on the way"), there's no mention of the native peoples the explorers encountered, but this lively history will make new readers want to know more. Hazel Rochman Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Senor Don Gato by John Manders (illustrator) Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Walker Books Ltd (August 4, 2003)

ISBN-10: 0744585813 ISBN-13: 978-0744585810

Book Description
As befits its hero, the song "Señor Don Gato" springs to life in an animated read-aloud sure to spur many a rousing rendition. Meow - Meow - Meow!

Oh, Señor Don Gato was a cat.
On a high red roof Don Gato sat. . . .

When Señor Don Gato receives an ardent love letter from the fluffy white lady cat, a dramatic chain of events is set into motion. There’s a tragic fall off the roof, a heart-rending death scene, a village thrown into mourning for its fallen hero . . . and then love, returned to life and triumphant. Lively and full of fun, John Manders’s illustrations capture delightful details of Spanish architecture and customs, while a costumed cast of cats acts out the well-known children’s song with comically melodramatic flair.

From School Library Journal ... This traditional English version of a Mexican rhyme has rhythm and pulse. It reads aloud well, and is beautifully extended by Manders's sun-drenched gouache illustrations. The gold tones give the effect of a trip to the south, and the humorous cartoon style gives viewers a Don Gato of charm and substance. Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist ... The bright, exuberant gouache illustrations, featuring a cast of bug-eyed cats (Don Gato wears a blousy, ruffle-necked shirt and a hat with a large feather), add the right amount of exaggeration and operatic flair to the entertaining story. A "meow-meow-meow" refrain runs throughout the rhyme as a chorus, and two pages of musical notation give children ample opportunity to "sing" along. Julie Cummins Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Clarence the Copy Cat by Patricia Lakin (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) Reading level: Baby-Preschool Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers (October 8, 2002)

ISBN-10: 0385327471 ISBN-13: 978-0385327473

Clarence has finally found a home in the town library, but will he be ousted when the librarian discovers his uselessness as a mouser?
Clarence may be a cat, but he’s a peace-loving cat–definitely not a mouser. This gets him evicted from his parents’ home at Sam’s Sandwich Shop. Sadly, other storekeepers shoo him away too, as soon as a dreaded m-o-u-s-e appears. Poor Clarence just can’t find a place without mice.
Dejected and tired, Clarence is feeling very sorry for himself when a kindly librarian takes him in. Clarence’s new home is grand–a public library filled with books. There’s even a whirring copy machine! Clarence loves to sit on top of it, earning him the name Copy Cat. For months, life is good. Very good . . . until the winter day when a you-know-what shows up. . . .

Honor Book 2004-2005 Nebraska's Children's Choice
Golden Sower Award
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Children's Book of the Month Alternative
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Children's Book Committee's
Best Books for 2002-Starred

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly ... Like sketchy caricatures, Manders's (First-Base Hero) action sequences and characters seem ready-made for animation, and when the spindly-legged Clarence sees the photocopy of himself as "a huge black cat with bulging legs, an enormous tummy, and whiskers that stuck out like arrows," the visual joke has wry resonance. ... book lovers will find the picture of Clarence and the librarian nestled together in a comfy window seat a satisfying parting view. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal ...Manders's appealing, full-color illustrations are lively and full of fun. Tall and skinny Clarence has a black coat and bulging yellow eyes, and is particularly comical when he stuffs his face with cheese or sits primly on the copier. Children will laugh out loud as they follow his adventures.Kristin de Lacoste, South Regional Public Library, Pembroke Pines, FL Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist ... Manders' cartoon-style art catches all the action as the critters make a whirlwind of books, brooms, and paper. A well-plotted, action-packed, comically illustrated story. Connie Fletcher Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Quiet Night by Marilyn Singer (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Clarion Books; Library Binding edition (April 22, 2002)

ISBN-10: 0618120440 ISBN-13: 978-0618120444
It's a quiet night in the woods, and a group of campers is asleep. That is, until one frog, two owls, three geese, four fish, and a host of rambunctious animals get together to create a symphony of sounds and enough mischief to wake even the soundest of sleepers. Honk-honk, whap-slap-what a noisy night! This cumulative counting book adds up to plenty of fun, as young readers look for the cleverly hidden critters within each lively illustration. Full of zany humor, Quiet Night offers a fresh and funny look at the great outdoors.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly Manders initially conveys the magic semi-stillness of a night outdoors; as the landscape gradually becomes standing room only, the rich, darker hues become a wonderful visual foil for the burgeoning, goofy critters who get carried away by just doing what comes naturally. Ages 2-6. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc
From School Library Journal ... This fantastic counting book will strike a chord with young children and has all the right stuff to become an interactive storytime classic when used with small groups. . . . .The illustrations are laugh-out-loud funny. . . .The simple text rhymes nicely and boasts a wonderfully rhythmic cadence. Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist From the very first page, this cumulative counting rhyme invites children to participate aloud: .... Manders' pictures are as zesty as the foot stompin' rhyme. The pictures burst with action and comedy, and the expressive animal characters are full of fun--jovial mice, quizzical owls, lip-smackin' coyotes. ... Stephanie Zvirin Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

by Patricia Lauber (Author),
John Manders (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Aladdin
(Jan. 2008)
ISBN-10: 1416967389
ISBN-13: 978-1416967385

by Patricia Lauber (Author),
John Manders (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
(May 1, 2001)
ISBN-10: 0689824203
ISBN-13: 978-0689824203

by Patricia Lauber (Author),
John Manders (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Aladdin
(July 1, 2002)
ISBN-10: 0689851006
ISBN-13: 978-0689851001

Dirt Boy by Erik Jon Slangerup (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Paperback: 32 pages Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (March 2003)

ISBN-10: 0807516171 ISBN-13: 978-0807516171

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal ...This is a witty fantasy about a topic with which children are quite familiar. The bright, bold watercolor-and-gouache illustrations in various shades of green and brown capture the essence of filth. In addition, Manders used "acrylic paint, crackle medium, modeling paste, colored pencils, sponges, fingers, and old toothbrushes" to create Dirt Boy. Wacky depictions of filthy Fister and the giant will amuse children. An engaging tale appropriate for reading aloud. Olga R. Barnes, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, NC Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist The squishy delight of wallowing in mud and mess is the elemental appeal for young preschoolers in this mucky picture book. Fister escapes authority, his "clean-and-mean mother" who tries to force him into the bath. He runs away to the woods, where he finds a home in the bellybutton of a giant, who hasn't taken a bath in a thousand years. They play dirt games. When birds nest in Fister's hair and mice snuggle on his body, he begins to feel icky and slimy, and when the giant begins to use the word delicious, Fister runs home to mother, who scrubs and scrubs him deliciously clean. The pictures--in watercolor and gouache--glory in the dirt. There are close-ups of the giant's teeth covered in green gunk, of mushrooms sprouting from the boy's toes, and of Fister's stinky breath blowing out in a thick, green cloud. The story stays true to the slapstick fun of getting dirty, even as it admits to the coziness and comfort of being clean. Hazel Rochman --

Z Is for Zombie by Merrily Kutner (Author), John Manders (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (September 1999)

ISBN-10: 0807594903 ISBN-13: 978-0807594902

Book Description
Z IS FOR ZOMBIE has won a Children's Choice Award for the 2000 list compiled by the Children's Book Council and the International Reading Association.

Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly ... Manders renders the malicious details in keenly observed watercolor-and-gouache panels. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal ... The pictures are striking, and some are gruesome; all reinforce the creepy mood of the text. ... Robin L. Gibson, Muskingum County Library System, Zanesville, OH Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist These clever couplets featuring spooky scenes and creatures of the night are great for reading aloud anytime but will prove especially popular during the Halloween season. Well-known favorites like Dracula and Frankenstein's monster come alive in Kutner's lively rhyming text and Manders' gruesome watercolor-and-gouache illustrations. .... A quality book for younger children wanting to get in the holiday spirit. Lauren Peterson

I’d be delighted to visit your school and speak to your students about children’s book illustration.

I offer a choice of presentations:
For Grade 4 & older, a step-by-step overview from the beginning stages of the creative process: manuscript, thumbnail sketches, full-sized sketches–to slides showing stages of a finished painting. I talk about the different people involved–editor, art director, author, illustrator–emphasizing the importance of group cooperation to produce a children’s book. I have visuals to pass around so that the students get a close-up view of all the stages being discussed.

Grades 1 - 3: I can do a painting demonstration. I explain the tools & materials I use, and paint a likeness of one of my characters.

High school, College, & Older: I’m happy to discuss the business & career aspects of illustration.

Cost: My honorarium for schools in the Pittsburgh area is $900.00 for a full day, $600.00 for a half day. I can do two presentations in the morning, two in the afternoon. If you’re not near Pittsburgh, my honorarium is $1,200.00 for a day–please add meals, mileage and hotel.

Recognitions: I’m proud to have been named Outstanding Illustrator/Author of 2006 by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association.

Me, Myself, and I by Sarah Albee Golden Books, June 2000 ISBN 0-307-45451-7	Monkey Business by Sarah Albee Golden Books July. 1999
Windy Won't Practice, Jasper and the Mixed up Dragon, Cricket and the Excitable Egg by Tracey West Golden Books	Santa in Space by Jack Silbert Golden Storybook September 2001 ISBN -0307204103
Dragon's Scales by Sarah Albee Random House October 1999	The Incredible Secret Formula Book by Shar Levine, et al
Mommy's Monster by Irene Trimble Golden Books	Dave and Jane's Band by Margaret Alien March 1999
Pirate Candy Treasure by Catherine McCafferty Nibble Me Books	Jelly Belly Princess by Laura Rossiter Nibble Me Books
Peanut Butter & Worms? by Craig Strasshofer Nibble Me Books	The Lion and the Mouse by Cheyenne Cisco Little Books & Big Books December 1997