I was five years old when my mom bought me my first comic book (as graphic novels were called back then). The combination of words and pictures— especially the word balloons, helped me to hear unique voices from each character in my head. From that point on, I read every comic I could get my hands on. I guess it worked out, as I became one of the best readers in my class.
I always encourage kids to create the comics they want to read! Whether you draw with stick figures, or with crayons, focus on telling a story that is fun for you to create. You can work with a friend or by yourself, drawing on paper (like I did starting out), or drawing on an iPad or in a phone app. Share your comics with friends and family by loaning them out, or have a parent take pictures of the pages and post them on the internet.
As a kid, I read and loved superhero books like Batman, X-Men, Spider-Man, Shazam!, Avengers, Wonder Woman, Fantastic Four– if it had a superhero, I read it! Later, I was introduced to comics in newspapers, like Peanuts, with Charlie Brown and Snoopy, Calvin & Hobbes, and Garfield.
These days, enjoy books like Amulet, Investigators, Leon the Extraordinary, Hey Kiddo!, and Roller Girl.
Check with your local bookstore or library – or you can find links to buy online on my BOOKS page.
You can see where I’m going to be traveling on my EVENTS page. My CONTACT page has information about requesting a future appearance.
Check out my CONTACT page for mailing information. Unfortunately, I can’t always respond to every letter or piece of fan art. Please don’t include your phone number or home address, and use a parent’s email address to send.
There are no current plans to make these into movies, but you never know!
The MAX MEOW series has been translated into Italian, Hebrew, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish, in editions that have been published in those countries. If you’re interested in acquiring copies, check in with your bookstore about making a special order!
Copyright 2025-2026 @ John Gallagher All rights reserved.