From: MWestonArt at aol.com <MWestonArt>
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 16:59:01 EDT

I have had the honor of illustrating the last three NATE THE GREAT books, since Marc Simont retired from the series. While I am under no restriction to try to exactly duplicate Marc Simont's style, attempting to come close has been an extraordinary education for me. I recommend such a task for any illustrator who wants to really study how another artist works. Mr. Simont's economy of line, his ability to create the perfect humorous yet almost dark moment is constantly amazing to me. He has created images of the recurring characters in these stories that ---just as Ms. Sharmat does in the text --- show the upmost respect for young readers. These are not cutesy kids having a fine time with a little mystery. Nate and his friends are oddly complicated characters with peculiar (and not necessarily likeable!) pets, and readers love to see them show up over and over again and root for Nate and Sludge to get to the bottom of each often ridiculous mystery.
Received on Fri 27 Apr 2001 03:59:01 PM CDT