HELLO!

Welcome to Chapter 14 of The Happy Book. In this chapter, I'll be talking to author/illustrator Matt Stanton, all about funny, kooky illustrated fiction. We'll chat about the huge popularity of such books and why they resonate so well with kids.

We'll also talk about the creation of these books-combining illustration with text so seamlessly and effectively, how illustrated books help with juvenile literacy, and loads more.

Fire up your device, cram in those earbuds and enjoy this foray into the magical world of kids' book creation. If you have any questions or comments, you can say hello at [email protected].

I'm Tania McCartney and I'm an author, illustrator and editor of children's books. I've always wanted to live inside a book, and now I practically do. Welcome to the Happy Book.

GUEST - MATT STANTON

Matt Stanton is a bestselling children's author and illustrator who has sold more than half a million funny kids' books. His award-winning middle-grade series, Funny Kid, launched around the world in 2017. Funny Kid for President, debuted as the #1 Australian kids' book and is fast winning legions of fans. He creates his bestselling Fart Monster + Friends picture books and Fart Monster and Me chapter books with Tim Miller and his award-winning Books That Drive Kids Crazy picture books with his wife, Beck Stanton. Beck and Matt live by the beach in Sydney with their three young children and an irritating but adorable cat.

SHOW NOTES

00:35 Introduction

01:35 Introducing Matt Stanton

02:30 How is Matt's irritating cat going?

03:14 Our bevvies of choice-a sencha green tea and a black coffee

03:39 A typical writing day for Matt

05:37 Working super early-the benefits

05:52 Writing more intense than illustrating?

06:55 Matt's first picture book There is a Monster Under My Bed Who Farts

07:37 Matt's desire to learn about publishing led to his career

08:30 Matt's 13-year career as a book designer and art director with HarperCollins

09:00 Pairing up with Tim Miller to write the Fart Monster books

09:47 Some great advice from a publisher

11:20 Putting yourself in the right place-industry involvement

12:11 Publishers are not your enemy

15:01 Writing between picture books and junior fiction

15:54 Stretching yourself outside genre and exploring new ones

18:24 Funny books-why is humour important in kids' books?

20:05 The Funny Kid ethos

20:40 All stories have some inherent messaging-subtle is best

20:57 This is a Ball

22:03 Bringing the concept of play into books

24:56 Demanding a response from kids

25:21 The Australian market and 'left field' books

28:14 Underestimating a creator's ability to know the market well

28:36 Thinking outside the square

28:44 Publishing the PBs in the US-the differences

31:02 The Funny Kid series-audience and reading ability

32:33 Kids' responses to Funny Kid

33:37 Inspiring reluctant readers

34:52 Illustrated fiction and how it connects readers

36:54 Children are reading differently now

37:24 Illustrations helping kids engage with nuance or context

38:50 Behind the scenes with Matt-fascinating!

41:11 Matt's process with Funny Kid books

47:39 The books that drive kids nuts-working with wife Beck

49:55 The challenges with writing a series

51:30 Some advice from Matt

56:07 What is Matt's favourite children's book right now?

57:25 What you Matt' s dream project...