Aaron Meshon
Aaron Meshon is an illustrator and award-winning children’s book writer, map maker, muralist, and cartoonist. Aaron has had the honor of having his work published in print and licensed for products around the world. When not working on his next book or illustration assignments, Aaron enjoys teaching at The School of Visual Arts in New York City. Aaron and his wife and child and French Bulldog currently live in Great Barrington, MA. Aaron’s love of traveling to their second home in Japan continues to influence his work and hopefully will lead to his dream of operating a repurposed sweet potato truck in rural Japan to sell products and T-Shirts.
Follow Aaron on Instagram @aaronmeshon
Reviews
Now That I’m Here
“Meshon’s rounded, marshmallowy shapes carry cheerful, goofy energy that amplifies the cozy chaos in this fresh perspective on how children expand their parents’ lives.” —Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review
"Are there any tots who don’t like to play with toy tools? Most likely not, and this appealing and inventive story features animated tool characters, each with its own individual traits. . . . The colored digital illustrations are imaginative (each tool has eyes, and some have legs), with sound effects offering opportunities for participation. . . . Mild puns add to the fun. . . . Diagrammatic arrows with large letters nail down the interchange among the tools and cleverly enforce the concept of working together. . . . Buy it along with a wooden toolset as a gift for an enterprising young carpenter." —Kirkus Reviews
Tools Rule!
"Meshon puts his cheery toylike crew to work building a tool shed. The bright cartoon spreads are filled with an epic cast of very cute characters, but by using arrows emblazoned with text to emphasize key actions (“Saw saws Wood”), Meshon makes the project easy to follow. With plenty of deeply satisfying onomatopoeia (“Vrip! Vrip! Vrip!” is the sound of the saw) and tool jokes (What sound does a nail make when it’s being hammered in? “Ok! Ouch! Ok! Ok! Ouch!”), the story should be deemed a job well done by preschool or kindergarten DIYers."—Publishers Weekly
"A yard full of amiable tools comes together to build a toolshed. Meshon’s illustrations are bright, bold, and emblazoned with smiling faces . . . With this lively text and positive message about the benefits of teamwork, Tools Rule! will please readers with an interest in how things work and provide an opportunity to spur engaging audience participation while reading aloud. This book could provide an excellent jumping-off point to engage students in further informational reading about tools or building structures." —School Library Journal
Take Me Out to the Yakyu
“Debut illustrator Meshon’s comparison of American and Japanese baseball is a skillful double play, entertaining (and educating) young baseball fans while affirming the growing number of children who live between two countries and two cultures . . . Making a book that’s equal parts affection and edification isn’t easy; Meshon’s record is one for one.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“The art has a fresh, attractive, naïf quality that fits the story perfectly. Using mostly blue for the American team and red for the Japanese, these bright pages do an excellent job of delineating each place while capturing the enthusiasm they share. Final pages include a chart of baseball words and other fun words in English and Japanese and an author’s note with additional information. Easy to follow and fascinating even for nonfans, this bicultural baseball outing provides a fresh, joyful take on the grand old game.” —Booklist, Starred Review
“The chunky font, candy-colored cartoon pictures, and Japanese pop-art style will have plenty of appeal for newly independent readers, and an author’s note adds more comparative detail about game rules and stadiums. Baseball-obsessed primary-schoolers will relish this offbeat addition to the meager beginning-reader sports collection.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A young boy enjoys the best of two baseball worlds. This fortunate youngster can savor the fine points of baseball in America and yakyu in Japan…. It’s all a perfectly constructed, vivid picture of the two nations’ particular takes on what has become both of their national pastimes, as well as a multigenerational love of the game. Colorful charts of Japanese and English baseball terms and other words add to the fun. Yakyu or baseball, it’s all sheer joy.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“The mostly mirror images on the well-balanced pages set up a quiet rhythm, thrillingly interrupted when both hitters get a home run (“Crack!/Kakiiin!”) and their baseballs cross paths and go flying through the facing page. Young fans intrigued by the game’s cultural differences will easily see that rooting for the home team—whether it’s “Win! Win! Win!” or “Do your best!”—is fun no matter where you are.” —The Horn Book
"The bright and cheerful acrylic illustrations feature shades of blue for the U. S. and reds for Japan, making it easy to distinguish between the two. The pages are nicely designed with clean lines and no clutter. A lively and enjoyable read for baseball fans, and a great choice for those compare-and-contrast lessons." —School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Baseball may be considered the great American pastime, but the Japanese have embraced the sport with a fervor all their own. This exceptional book marries the two traditions with charming naïf illustration and clear text. On opposing pages, a boy explains the differences between outings with his American pop pop to the stadium and with his Japanese ji ji at the dome.” —The New York Times Book Review
The Best Days are Dog Days
"When the duo brush their teeth, the spread has just two words in gigantic type: 'MINTY! / BEEFY!' That sums it up: a dog story with a fresh approach and something with solid flavor to chew on." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"Full of humorous, true-to-life details, it's a joyful story of a dog-loving family (and a family-loving dog) that's assured on every level: graphic, verbal, and emotional.” —School Library Journal
"The vivid acrylic illustrations and hand-lettering elevate this picture book to more than a general purchase. VERDICT Perfect for all libraries with dog-loving patrons". —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"the frequent dialogue balloons feature witty lettering (“RISE AND SHINE!” in yellow and orange 3D letters resembling sun rays; “WE STRETCH!” in elongated letters; “We love getting SOAKED!” in watery bubble writing). As Sis and dog fall asleep nose to snout, the shared thought bubble above reads, “We can’t wait for tomorrow!” Young listeners, too, won’t want to wait long for another “dog day” with this pair." —The Horn Book
Tomorrow is Waiting
“This inspiring picture book soars with beauty and hope, awakening young readers to the infinite possibilities of their imaginations, as well as their humanity.” —R.J. Palacio, author