Copyright 2011
Schoolside Press
All Rights Reserved

Meet Author Andrew Martonyi

 

I have always been fascinated with maps. All those squiggly lines leading to places I have never seen intrigued me and made me want to know more.  However, rote memorization just did not work for me, and I soon learned that others had the same difficulty. I kept thinking that there had to be a way to help all of us with this challenge.  And surely, the best place to start is when we are children.

If kids are to have any interest at all in geography, they must have tools to help them learn and remember the basics easily and effectively. Therefore, if I could come up with a way to make learning the names, shapes, and locations of the U.S. states fun and interesting, it could start them on a great adventure of learning about this vast country of ours.

 

In order to achieve this, I knew I had to create something colorful and fun, something that would quickly grab the kids' attention, and also help parents, grandparents, and homeschoolers encourage their children to develop a love of travel and geography.

 

My books are designed to show families and educators that learning can and should be fun.

 

I have taken my books to schools and introduced children to MIM—The Little Man In the Map. The first question usually is, “Did you create the Little Man?” And I say to them, “No, the Mississippi River did that, along with the five states that border the river.” It really fascinates them that a “little man” is actually standing in the U.S. map, and that they have never heard of him before. And when I tell them that he also has a chair and table with food and water on the table, and every other state plays a role as well, they become captivated.

 

I have been honored by the recognition received by THE LITTLE MAN IN THE MAP: a Silver Award from the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, a Silver Award from  Forward Magazine’s  Book Of the Year, the Most Original Concept Award from the IPPY Book Awards, Finalist status from the Indie Book of the Year Awards, and an Eric Hoffer Montaigne Medal,.

   

    “Each year, the Montaigne Medal is given to the most thought-

   provoking titles – books that either illuminate, progress or redirect

    thought.”

 

My hope is that it will do that for all children.

 

Andrew Martonyi has been interviewed by California Readers,  and Big Blend Radio. Andrew has also joined Big Blend Radio as an expert columnist. You can listen to his two interviews, and read his column here.