Monster by the Masters! A Cartoonist's Introduction to Great Art

"An inspired collaboration!"-Steven Kellogg, author/illustrator "What a joy! It is seldom that one encounters such talent in both father and daughter and it is a great example for the families in our schools." -Alma Flor Ada, author of Dancing Home and Pura Belpre Award winner Under the Royal Palms. "This is a book for all ages. The paintings are delightful! The children loved the activities. You've given life to the legends." -Ann Noller, Elementary art teacher Sid Couchey was a cartoonist for Harvey Comics during the Silver Age of comic books, drawing Richie Rich, Little Dot, and Little Lotta for more than twenty years. Locally, Sid has become associated with "Champy," Lake Champlain's answer to the Loch Ness monster and one of Sid's favorite subjects. Sid has been invited to be an artist-in-residence in schools in both New York and South Carolina, where he uses his series of paintings called "Champy by the Masters" as a fun way to teach art history. The series has received enthusiastic feedback from parents and teachers, and is the basis for this delightful children's book. Laura Couchey Abate, Sid's daughter, is an educator and freelance writer. She has an MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and twenty years in the field. Her experience includes teaching in China; teaching ESL in public schools, adult education, and college; curriculum and test development for an international network of language schools in Brazil; and, most recently, working as a professional developer for public school teachers in New York. "As the parent of two young boys, I am constantly searching for children's books that will both entertain and teach. It is our hope that this book will be a fun first exposure to art for young artists and bring out the child artist in the rest of us."