Picture Book Report

• Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Phil McAndrew and I’m an illustrator and cartoonist from Syracuse, NY. I’ve created illustrations for magazines, newspapers, animated television spots, theatre scenery, t-shirts, posters, album covers, gallery exhibits, websites and fun. My mini comics have been praised by the American Mustache Institute and on USA Today’s Pop Candy blog. I’ve also contributed comics to a number of anthology books and websites, including Top Shelf 2.0 and all three volumes of the You Ain’t No Dancer books from New Reliable Press. I’m a founding member of Found Hat Press, a collective of talented young illustrators and cartoonists. I love pizza.

• Why did you pick the book you chose?

I read it once when I was ten years old and loved it, somehow totally forgot about it, and then rediscovered it in college. It’s for children really, but I’ve probably read it a five or six times now as an adult. It’s about two kids, a brother and sister, running away from home and hiding out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The story is fun, the humor is subtle and sharp at the same time. The characters are as fascinating and complex as the museum they run away to. I’d absolutely include it on my list of favorite books. I think it’ll be a fun challenge, creating illustrations for this story.

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The energy in Phil’s illustrations and comics floors me– I love his attention to imperfect characters and his crazy linework! It’ll be quite fun to see the first of these illustrations on February 25, don’t you agree? But why not check out his blog and portfolio?

The last amazing contibutor is up next! Oh, what will the story be? Wait and see in five minutes!