10 Kids' Books Illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Matthew Cordell is the husband of YA author Julie Halpern. He is a graphic designer, as well as a children's author and illustrator, and he lives in the suburbs of Chicago.  You can read his full bio on his website.  He also has a blog. You can see a photo of Mr. Cordell in this 2008 interview conducted by author James Preller. Below is a list of some of the works he has illustrated.

Justin Case Series

In his diary, Justin Krzeszewski relates the highs and lows of his life as he progresses through a worrisome third grade year, a disastrous summer camp experience, and a new school year plagued by bullies. There are three titles in this series, which is written by Rachel Vail.

• Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters
• Justin Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom
• Justin Case: Rules, Tools, and Maybe a Bully

 

Eleanor Series

Sensitive eight-year-old Eleanor deals with the complicated emotions associated with experiences such as her babysitter moving away, going to a summer camp she doesn't like and overcoming stage fright. There are three books in the series, which is written in free verse by Julie Sternberg.

• Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie
• Like Bug Juice on a Burger
• Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake

More Poetry

• Gone Fishing by Tamara Will Wissinger is the story of a family fishing trip which highlights the rivalry between a brother and a sister while simultaneously demonstrating different poetic forms.
• Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It by Gail Carson Levine is a collection of apology poems modeled after William Carlos Williams' poem, "This is Just to Say."
  
  

Picture Books

• What Floats in a Moat? by Lynne Berry explores the concept of buoyancy and makes it understandable to a young elementary audience.
• Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson celebrates the connection between a mother and her child. No matter how far away the baby frog wanders, he'll always leap back home to his mommy!