Biographical information and interviews with Mike Artell
Background and Experience
Mike Artell is an award-winning children’s book author, illustrator and TV
cartoonist. Mike’s body of work includes nationally recognized picture books,
wordplay books, how-to books and non-fiction books. Mike has also written and
illustrated teacher and parent resource books on subjects as diverse as ecology,
parties, cartooning and young authorship. In addition to his work as an author
and illustrator, Mike also has extensive experience as:
· A musician who plays guitar, keyboard and blues harmonica.
·
A storyteller who regularly performs original poems and tales.
·
A newspaper editorial cartoonist.
·
A magazine and greeting card writer and cartoonist.
·
A keynote speaker and humorist.
·
The host of his own television cartooning show.
Mike’s newest project is a CD of original Mardi Gras music for children and families (CALLING ALL CHILDREN TO THE MARDI GRAS) which he wrote and recorded with Shad Weathersby, has been awarded a Parents’ Choice Foundation award. Information about the CD is available at www.callingallchildren.com .
In a typical year, Mike shares his books with more than 13,000 students at 50+
schools across the U.S., visits 6 public libraries, writes and illustrates 2
books, conducts 6 writing workshops and addresses 10 conferences.
Mike regularly conducts “author/illustrator in residence” programs at schools
and he has personally guided more than 3,500 students through the process of
writing and illustrating their own
picture books. For this work, Mike was recognized by the Northshore (LA) chapter
of the
International Reading Association for “exemplary service in the promotion
of literacy.”
Many of
Mike’s books have been award-winners. Most recently, Mike’s book, PETITE ROUGE -
A Cajun Red Riding Hood was named by the National Association of Elementary
School Principals as its 2009 Read Aloud Book of the Year. PETITE ROUGE has also
become a musical theatre production which has been staged at many theatres
across the U.S. and in England. Mike’s astronomy book titled, STARRY SKIES, was
named a Best Science Book For Children by the American Association for the
Advancement of Science and Mike’s books have also been named “Pick of the Lists”
by Publisher’s Weekly, “Top 100” by Curriculum Administrator Magazine and
“Teacher’s Choice” by Learning Magazine.
Mike is a popular platform speaker and has addressed dozens of major
educational, business and healthcare organizations on the subject of humor and
its importance to our personal and professional lives. Mike has a B.A. in
Marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University and is a member of the
Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.
Here are some interviews with Mike. Some are audio interviews, other are written interviews...
This is an audio interview done by Read Write Think. Lots of info about my joke, riddle and tongue twister books: http://www.readwritethink.org/beyondtheclassroom/summer/podcastsvideos/CAB/013_humor.asp
Another audio interview. This time with "Just One More Book." http://www.justonemorebook.com/2006/07/20/our-all-time-favourite-petite-rouge/
This is an old interview (2000), but it's got some good questions from readers. Please note that the email address shown (mikeartell@aol.com) is not one I use anymore. http://teachers.net/archive/artell020800.html
Here's a YouTube video of me doing a "video author visit" with a school in Oregon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVhAPRrJNyA