MJM Books, LLC
MJM Books was founded in 2007 by three innovative brothers Mike, Jeff, and Matt. Despite residing in different parts of the US (Phoenix, Chicago, and Denver) the brothers found a creative way to stay in touch. They began publishing unique children's books that parents and kids love to read.
MJM Books is also a celebration of little Olivia. Olivia is Matt's little girl and became the inspiration for their company. This spunky little girl needed a very special Christmas present one year so Uncle Jeff put himself into her tiny shoes to write and illustrate "If I Were Big."
Family and friends loved the story and pleaded for more books with their own child as the star. MJM Books was born.
In the first version of "If I Were Big", Jeff's clip art illustrations, while awesome, needed a professional touch. So MJM Books recruited three artists, as talented as they are different, to sign on to the project. Beth, Erin, and Sara created the magical worlds that your children will surely find hilarious, engaging, and heartwarming.
Please browse through our books, learn more about the artists, and learn more about MJM's mission to support children's literacy.
Our Artists
We applaud our artists who truly bring the stories to life.
Sara Michaels - “A Day at the Park”
"While illustrating this story I thought about what I would have enjoyed as a kid. I had always incorporated a bit of silliness into my drawings as a child, and even as an adult I know that a bit of silliness in life is always a good thing. One of the most satisfying things you can do in life is to make people laugh!"
Sara Michaels now lives in Spring Grove, Illinois, where she illustrates designs for t-shirts, websites, (and, of course, just for fun!) through her company S.E.M. Illustrations. She earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration from Columbia College Chicago in 2008, and currently lives with her family and her big fluffy cat, Turkish.
Beth Link - “What Animal Are You?”
Beth Link’s love of illustration stems from her own childhood, where she was whisked around the world, only living in each place for a year or two before relocating. This constant wandering made her earliest drawings her most consistent companions, and also sparked her imagination and instilled a love of learning about the world and everything in it.
Beth jumps at any opportunity to share this passion with others, and “What Animal Are You?” did that and more, exercising the artists passion for the animal kingdom and challenging her with dozens of design elements for every page of the customizable book. Beth calls Denver, CO home, and when she’s not illustrating children’s books, she’s taking care of her own 700 children…as an elementary school art teacher.
Erin Drewitz - "If I Were Big"
About her inspirations: "I find hope in the child, wide-eyed and running through the sprinklers. I also see beauty in the discarded yellow velvet couch in the alley; it is golden in the sun. Old and forgotten or fresh with the optimism of youth - they are both stunning. I try to draw with both in my mind. "If I Were Big" is my first illustrated book. I hope you and your child enjoy it."
Erin lives in Chicago with 2 cats. She received a BA in Studio Art from Wheaton College, IL and works as a freelance photographer, illustrator and designer. You can visit her website at www.erindrewitz.com.
Emily Schneider - "I'm An Artist"
“Hi, my name is Emily. I’m __ years old and I’m an artist!” Despite being written by someone else, the book “I’m an Artist” is a bit auto-biographical. As long as I can remember, I have doodled, created and aspired to being an artist. This is a book I can truly relate to.
On your average week day, I teach art to elementary school kids, encouraging them in their own paths as artists and creative thinkers. And I continue to pursue my own path… I am inspired by Arizona sunsets, incredible acts of human kindness, and my beautiful family.
Your child will soar through the galaxy on this cosmic adventure.
PREVIEW
Just what happens during a day at the park? You'd be surprised!
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Let your child's imagination run wild as they role play along.
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Big, but how big? Find out in the story that launched MJM Books.
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Let your child's creativity shine through in this customized coloring book.
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