Honest review by a youngster, nice!

Guaranteed to WARM YOUR HEART!

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_4060521c-09a1-11e0-b9a0-001cc4c002e0.html

This is a great article about books touching lives!

The story is about either an old man or old woman (depending on the child's gender) who reveal their past dreams combining fantasy and reality.

As the students returned to their desks with their new books, they immediately tore off the ribbon and thumbed through the colorful pages of the book.

"I like this book a lot," said Anthony Montelongo, 8, as his eyes grew wide with each turn of a page. "I think this is going to be one of my favorite books."

Esperanza Espinoza, 8, said with each page she read, she could see herself in the book.

"I picture the girl saying all those things and then I picture me saying it too," she said. "I think this is going to be a book that I'm going to read over and over again because it's a great book."

Deja Apodaca, also 8, who already had read through half of the book, said her favorite part was the dream the girl had about being a diver and exploring the sea.

"I think this part is funny," she said showing off a page with a shark bearing a shiny, gold tooth. "I'm glad Bob gave me this book."

Sincerely yours,

"Jason" Matott

In my newest book, Gabe is up to his old tricks!

In an attempt to fool The Goon Squad, Gabe mixed up his journal, just in case they found the plans that were coming up to do a SUPER prank! If you have the book, check it out, Chapter 7 holds MUCH mystery and the way it is put together is simply GENIUS... ahem, uh, okay.... thanks for reading!

Love Coldplay? How about some Christmas Coldplay?

A voice. A story. A thankful person.

A friend of mine from college posted something on her facebook page that spoke to me. She is a person who goes out of her way to be there for others and her kindness is always apparent (as a matter of fact that is likely why this message from her meant so much, because she was always reaching out to others, most likely had no idea of her struggles). Her husband just got a job after grueling months of looking. I have other friends who have been very affected by the economical downturn, the truth is we all have. My friend Juley has a big heart and some very encouraging and thankful words. It was the honesty in what she wrote here that really touched me, so I asked her if I could post it and she was kind enough to say yes. I celebrate with her and her family their turning point and wish everyone a very warm and wonderful holiday season.

What I've Learned During our Unemployment

1. There are lots of people unemployed or underemployed right now.

2. People don't shun you just because you are unemployed.

3. If you include your child(ren) in your conversations and concerns, they will help and support you better than you ever dreamed. They will go without, they will say comforting and encouraging things and they will not be angry--because they are included and feel good about contributing.

4. There are no government programs that will help you if you have any assets at all, other than your house. No free lunch, no health insurance for your child, nothing. You don't even get unemployment if you worked part-time or didn't contribute or were fired. (Fortunately, we had unemployment benefits!) There isn't any program that we as taxpayers contribute to that will help a family get back on their feet before they lose everything--there are only programs that help those who are destitute. I think it's too late by then. I think this is something I would like to write to my congress about.

5. The opposite of #4 is that family, friends and friends of friends are so willing to help, support, donate, and give. We have been so fortunate to be invited to meals, have our pictures taken, given books, hand-me-downs (Kath's favorite), gift cards for Christmas, received tickets for concerts, plays and events--it's overwhelming and I cry every time I think about it.

6. If you tell your kid's teacher about the change, they will help and support your child in a discrete, lovely way. Another thing that makes me cry. So wonderful.

7. People will pray--and the prayers work and are so comforting. This one is by no means in order of importance, either. People will pray for you who aren't even sure they believe in God. The gift of the human spirit that God has given us is the most wonderful gift ever. This one is my favorite.

8. It's ok to eat soup and grilled cheese two nights a week.

9. It's really hard to say "I can't afford this" the first time, but after that it becomes easier. And it's best--because you don't know how long you have to sustain this hardship. Shelter, food and clothing are the only concerns.

10. People will understand if you don't give them Christmas cards or gifts. It's really the feeling that I have--the obligation and the guilt, that is the issue. This is one that I think we struggle with all our lives.

11. There are lots and lots of free, wonderful events that you can participate in to get you out of the house. There are library events, school events, service events--all during the day or in the evening--to choose from.

12. Job hunting is a full-time job for the person who is looking. It was amazing to watch my husband network, go to support groups, meet new people, practice for interviews, apply for jobs, make calls...it goes on and on. We didn't get much time to be together because of the enormity of this task. But that's ok--I appreciate him for this.

13. I am a rock. While my husband was looking for jobs, being turned down, not called back, etc, it was my job to keep us socializing, happy and making nice meals. To turn his mind from being depressed, or to cheer him up. To engage our family in conversations that were fun--and to make the unemployment a challenge, rather than a hardship. I realize that I can do this and I am the center of my family. It feels good to be in this role.

14. In order to be a rock, I had to rely on my friends. I learned once again in my life how important my relationships are. They gave me encouragement, laughter, suggestions, and support. I learned to think back to when I started a friendship--how I would have never thought at the time how important it would be. I will not take these things for granted--the best things in life are my friendships.

15. I learned that I'm not the only one that is going through hardships. I learned that you can go through hardships at the same time as your friends and support each other. The world does not stop because you are experiencing something--life goes on, and it's important that you get on the train--and if one can't get on yet, keep your arm extended to help them when they're ready.

16. People love homemade cards. They really do enjoy the sentiment more than the maker.

17. Loved ones who have helped you along the way don't keep score. They are part of the universal effort to help one another and they know that they are an inspiration to the recipient to go and help another. These hearts are the most generous, contagious, wonderful, quiet, humble hearts and it is beautiful to be in this community.

18. A hug can be the best gift you've ever received.

19. Just because you have no money doesn't mean you have nothing to give.

20. It takes a lot of money to live--even if all you buy is health insurance, food, your mortgage, and toilet paper--an amazing amount of money--a ridiculous amount of money. I see that recovery from this is going to take a lot of time. I learned that it is amazing how people make a living, raise their children and send them to college. I learned that overall I'm thankful for my choices in the past and hope to improve some areas for the future.

Thank you friends and family. You are my lifeblood and I'm so grateful for you.

Merry Christmas from my family!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Just can't take things too seriously...

I tell kids every time I visit schools that EVERY DAY has the potential to be a story you should write about. Some are good, some aren't so great. But if you add details to make people interested, even sometimes the most mundane stories can spring alive.

You hear people say all the time, "Someday, we will laugh about this." Some experiences seem so far from laughable, but with time and distance become a little amusing and sometimes just hilarious. This one mildly amuses me at this point and I hope somewhat amuses you.

Here is my attempt to make something good from a morning gone bad.

First let me mention I had a very important meeting to go to and thirty minutes to shower and drive to the destination which was pushing it, because the destination is AT LEAST twenty minutes from my house.

I was at a gas station about four miles from my house. The top was down (important to know my car was wide open), my credit card was in my trunk. I went to get my credit card and locked my keys in the trunk. Perplexed about what I had just done, I went ahead and fueled up as I thought about how dumb I am. Fortunately there is a trunk release, so all was not lost. When I went to use the trunk release, for some reason on this day only it didn't work. I tried it twenty times just to be sure it wasn't the angle of my pushing, NO GO! Now I was in panic mode. My meeting was coming fast and it looked like I was going to go in my running clothes, not the worst thing in the world, and not the best first impression either, but we would laugh at the circumstances that forced me to show up late and in running gear. I would just call... Oh no, I had locked my cell phone in the trunk too (see I had both in my hand when I set them down to look through all the stuff I had stuffed in my trunk for my wallet.) I didn't know the phone number to call to alert the person I was meeting with so I went in to panic mode. I would have to jog, er run home.

I asked the attendant to keep an eye on my totally open car and jogged home, FOUR miles.

I got home, couldn't for the life of me remember the garage entry code. Finally after running around the house hoping for an open window I could crawl through I remembered it and sprinted to the keypad before I forgot it. I rushed into the house and couldn't find my spare set (looked four times in the same place, where we keep spare keys). All the while going through caller ID to find the phone number of the person I was meeting, realizing finally that he had only communicated previously on my cell phone which was taking a nap in my car's trunk.

I relearned how to use a phone book since I have grown used to my phone's 3G network.
Then I called the dealership and as fast as I could explained the situation.
"Spare key?" she asked.
"Can't find it... 'tis why I called you." I said, trying really hard to remain calm, patient and nice. The old more bees to honey thing popped into my mind.
The nice sounding lady pulled up my file and then the lady started to laugh, "Sir, you do know you have a trunk release right near your steering wheel, giggle, laugh..."
"Uh, yeah, tried that." NO LAUGH.
"Tried?" she said with a slightly haughty tone.
"'Bout twenty times actually, wouldn't release." The tone of my voice growling deeper, "I need an alternative to the release, or a key, is there another way in?" I was getting impatient thinking about the six punk teens who were unbolting the seats in my convertible even as we spoke.
"Mine does." she said.
"What?" I said astonished that her answer seemed to have nothing to do with what I had just stammered.
"I have a car similar to yours and my trunk latch works." she said matter of factly.
"My keys aren't locked in your trunk. Mine doesn't, so plan B?"
Did you say the top was down?"
"Yes!" not sure how I could have said that more clearly when I was explaining that my car was sitting wide open, unattended in a gas station and I needed to get back there as soon as possible.
"Locksmith?"
Oh why hadn't I thought of that? Oh yeah because my meeting was six minutes ago and I didn't want to spend $200 to have some yahoo scratch the crap out of my car. "NO! IS THERE A WAY TO GET IN?"
She cleared her throat in a way that told me I was pushing her closer to hanging up on me.
"Well sir, you have a trunk ski pass through. You can retrieve the keys through that if your car is open." her condescending tone at this point was grating on me like sandpaper but not as much as my own stupidity for not thinking of that, since once before I had used it to retrieve something in the trunk.
"THANK YOU!" I hung up and in a mad panic searched everywhere for the phone number again of the person I was going to go meet to let him know I hadn't just blown off the meeting. Then I realized the only place I had his private number (that I couldn't look up or google) was on my cell phone because even though I know you are supposed to back up all of your information, I hadn't. "DOH!" Idiot alert!
Now I had to get back to the gas station before my car was sitting up on blocks. Four miles back is a good jog (I had just finished a three miler with a friend when I pulled into the gas station, so now with my trip home I was up to seven miles and I was feeling it a bit).
So, I thought, "I will take my bike back, it will be much faster and will stretch my legs out well, because I don't have time to stretch or anything else for that matter. I was in full panic mode, because the person I was going to meet was surely sitting there waiting for me and ringing my cell phone as we speak. This meeting was going to open up an opportunity for me that I had been working on for some time and wasn't likely to get a second chance. I HAD TO GET IN THAT TRUNK! NOW!

So about a mile from my house my front tire went flat almost pitching me over the handlebars. I ditched my bike behind a grove of trees and jogged the rest of the way to the gas station (now I've logged in ten, seven unintentional miles of jogging).

I jumped into my untouched car's back seat and fished my arm, up to my shoulder around in the dark trunk for what seemed like twenty minutes digging through all the crap I had thrown in my trunk, looking for those #@%# keys and cell phone as people came and went laughing, gassing up, staring and pointing at this idiot with his butt in the air desperately sweeping the trunk blindly and some near 'A Christmas Story' language floating above and wondering where the 'WHAT WOULD YOU DO' CAMERA WAS and just about when I was going to offer to rent a small child to crawl through for me I finally found them both at the same time.

I looked at my phone; three messages, all from the same guy I was meeting with. The first a full apology that at the last minute he had to cancel because of an emergency. The other two apologies and pleas for me to call to make sure I had gotten his other messages and wasn't just sitting there waiting for him.

AT LAST SOMETHING HAD GONE RIGHT. Now, I had something to hold over his head and I would REALLY get what I wanted from our next meeting... boo haa haa haa...

I drove back toward my house to get my bike and as I was loading it in my car, this lady pulls over and says, "I've got your license plate if you even think about stealing that bike!" I simply rolled my eyes which really inflamed her.

NOW, here is the final straw. When I got home, I thought, "I need to order another set of keys in case this happens again." When I went to the drawer where we keep things like extra keys, my set of extras was sitting right there on the top of everything. "Now, how didn't I see that when I was searching?" I thought. Probably the same way I don't see things in the refrigerator that have been in the same place for years.

The meeting took place the next week and went very well.

HAVE YOU EVER DONE ANYTHING SO BONEHEADED THAT YOU NOW LAUGH ABOUT? IT REMINDS ME OF THE SAYING I SAY TO YOUNGER PEOPLE "DON'T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE IF YOU DO, NOBODY ELSE WILL."

iPad Alien book coming. Here is a preview!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA7FA_gEfUM

I wanted to share my new iPad book that will be released in about a week at the apple itunes site! I am very excited to see this book on an electronic medium like this because the way Laurie McAdam and I designed it was just the right thing for an interactive electronic book (there was no such thing when we started to work on it some seven years ago).

The printed book itself is hours of fun with the 1728 different alien combinations enjoyed by children as young as preschool and in middle school too! You can get the printed copy signed and personalized at my website, www.justinmatott.com or it is also available at amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/ALIENS-All-Mixed-Justin-Matott/dp/1889191221/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291333146&sr=1-1

This just might be the coolest book you will ever see! It's tough to "read" this book the same way twice, thrice or even ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT TIMES! With the clever mix-and-match format, This book is out-of-this-world with 1,728 different aliens combinations. Whimsically hip Matott illustrator, Laurie McAdam, who collaborated with Justin on the Grandparent books and Oliver Kringle, outdoes herself in Aliens! You'll flip when you see it!

WORD PLAY WITH THE ALPHABET

Alphabetically speaking

A Beautifully Colored Diagram - Entailing Funny, Gross, Happy, Ignorant, Jumpy, Kritters Laughable Musings Not Only Posing Questions Really - Studying Twenty-six Understandable, Valuable Ways & Xamining Your Zeal

THE LETTER Y

Day 25 Brought to you by the letter Y!

Yolanda Yack Yelps “Yo, You Yechy Yellow Young Yipper-snapper-Yellow-belly Yokels Yammering & Yodelingly!”

Yvonne Yachtswomen's Yelling, “Yahoo! Yeah! Yadda Yadda Yadda, You Yapping Yankee!”

Alliterated Alphabetical Animals are catching on. At the Facebook page, they are chiming in already, check it out http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1016679907#!/pages/The-Works-of-Justin-Matott/213624096290

I'm coming to your school!

As a way of introducing myself to the schools I will visit next week, where we will be talking about bullying, anti-bullying techniques and what it feels like to be singled out by bullies, I made this video. It is not nice to judge someone you don't know based on their appearances and obviously when you see me, you know I know a little about that!

Writers watch this, so true, funny!