Janna Matthies
Children’s Book Author
books
Coming 2025!
over in THE GARDEN, illus. Tisha Lee (random house children’s books, 3.18.25)
BABY, LET’S GO TO THE ORCHESTRA!, illus. Monique Felix (Creative Editions, ‘25)
Click books to explore & buy
NEW!
(2024)
Discover all the joyful moments and adventures waiting right outside your door in this mindful, rhyming, picture book celebration of backyard nature.
”In my yard’s a towering tree. It reaches high to cover me. I lie beneath the towering tree and think my thoughts and breathe, and be.”
Join a cast of friends, human and animal alike, as they embark on a musical read-aloud adventure in this upbeat, joyful picture book.
A boy sets off with his flute and his stuffed bear and a rum-pum-pum. As they make their way through the town and the woods, they ask, “Wanna come?” Soon, kids and creatures join in the fun one by one, playing instruments, singing, and dancing to the catchy tune.
* Junior Library Guild Gold Standard
* Starred Review, The Horn Book
*2024 Indiana Authors Award, Children’s Category
(2022)
board book (2021)
Remind little ones that God will always be there to love, support, and comfort them — no matter the situation — with this uplifting, reassuring board book.
“When the sun is under wraps, darkness creeps and thunder claps, showers flood and sirens warn, who is bigger than the storm?
God, that’s who.”
From playing in the snow to a rainy-day ride, to double-scoop treats and crash-landing in leaves, two can be the perfect number for creating life's memories. And two can definitely be enough for a warm family, full of the love, support, and comfort that every child needs.
“Two is enough when it’s me plus you!”
*Bank Street Best Books
*New York Times Book Review “family matters” round-up
After Mom and Dad tell Janie and Jeffrey that Mom has cancer, the whole family goes to the doctor to ask questions. “…we're working very hard to make her better -probably by pumpkin time." That gave Janie an idea...a vegetable garden. As the garden grows, Mom's treatment progresses…and when it's all done, there are healthy pumpkins and a healthy Mom!
*Starred review, School Library Journal
*CCBC Choices
*Sharjah Int’l Book Fair, Best Foreign Children’s Book
Brave Peter, a young knight, stands on the lookout, protecting the castle. A ferocious dragon creeps out of the woods! Brave Peter charges after him - until wheeze, wheeze, sputter, sputter - it's time for My Lady, his mother, to bring the rescue inhaler. Soon a trip to the doctor follows, and Brave Peter learns how to manage his asthma and keep fit for fighting dragons.
lift-flap book
Giant 'monster' trucks spend a busy day working on-site. Funny rhyming text, hilarious foiled truck characters, and very cool lift-the-flaps make this a very fun truck book!
about
Why I write: There’s so much beauty all around - in nature, in art, in relationships - that I can’t help but create from the overflow. I hope to illuminate beauty for young readers and, in doing so, to add to it.
Same chair & haircut as today!
In the music classroom
Bio
author portrait by a young reader
In my garden
Janna Matthies’s early years consisted of inventing stories on her cassette recorder, practicing piano and violin (preferably by moonlight), and searching the garden for additions to her bug collection. Today she’s a picture book author and early-elementary music teacher in Indianapolis, where her gardening interests have turned to flowers and veg.
Forthcoming titles include OVER IN THE GARDEN (Random House Children’s Books, 3.2025) and BABY, LET’S GO TO THE ORCHESTRA (Creative Editions, 2025). Other titles are MY TOWERING TREE (Beach Lane/S&S, 8.2024), HERE WE COME! (Beach Lane Books/S&S, 2022), which earned a 2024 Indiana Authors Award, a Horn Book starred review and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection; GOD’S ALWAYS LOVING YOU (WorthyKids, 2021); TWO IS ENOUGH (Running Press Kids/Hachette), which made the Bank Street list and NYT Book Review; THE GOODBYE CANCER GARDEN (Albert Whitman), which earned a School Library Journal starred review, “Best Foreign Children’s Book” at the Sharjah International Book Fair, and inclusion in the CCBC Choices list; PETER, THE KNIGHT WITH ASTHMA (Albert Whitman); and MONSTER TRUCKS (Piggy Toes Press).
Janna is represented by Rachel Orr of Prospect Agency. She holds a BA from Northwestern University and is a long-time participant in the Indiana SCBWI. She also edits the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s “Teddy Bear Concert” picture book series. When not reading, writing, singing, or gardening, you’ll find Janna on long walks with her family and howling husky, Juneau.
news
here we come! wins Children’s category of 2024 indiana author’s award (8.21.24)
First review for MY TOWERING TREE!
Kirkus Reviews, May 2024
“A gentle appreciation of the nature around us, from the ground to the sky. (Picture book 3-8)”
extras
Trailer for my towering tree (music by me)
Trailer for Here We Come! (music by me)
download coloring pages for HERE WE COME!
excerpt from Picture Book Look podcast
contact
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Author visits & speaking
I love sharing books & songs with kids! I also enjoy speaking with adults about writerly topics. To invite me virtually or in-person to your school, library, or event, please email me at jannamatthies@gmail.com for availability and pricing.
For a free, signed bookplate to affix inside one of my books, use the contact form below. Specify which book, to whom I can sign it, and your address, and I’ll send it off!
* For guidance on becoming a published children’s book author, my best advice is to visit scbwi.org (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). This is where everything began for me - learning about the kidlit industry, attending conferences, connecting with a critique group, growing in the craft, and support along the way. I also recommend a full read of Children’s Writers & Illustrators Market. Best wishes!
For other inquiries & greetings, please use the form below. I look forward to hearing from you!