Jon J Muth

Jon J Muth (; born July 28, 1960) is an American writer and illustrator of children's books as well as graphic novels and comic books.

Career

Muth studied stone sculpture and shodō (書道) (brush calligraphy) in Japan; and studied painting, printmaking, and drawing in England, Austria, and Germany.

In the comics industry, his works include J. M. DeMatteis' graphic novel Moonshadow, Grant Morrison's The Mystery Play, Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: The Wake with Michael Zulli and Charles Vess, Mike Carey's Lucifer: Nirvana and Swamp Thing: Roots. He worked with writers Walt and Louise Simonson and co-artist Kent Williams on Havok and Wolverine: Meltdown in 1988. That series was a result of Williams and Muth's desire to work on a project together. Muth received an Eisner Award in the category "Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Interior Art)" in 1995 for his work on The Mystery Play.

In addition, Muth has had an award-winning career as a children's book writer and illustrator. He explained that "a sense of joy is what moved me from comics to picture books. My work in children's books grew out of a desire to explore what I was feeling as a new father". He received a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators in 1999 for his illustrations in Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse. Muth created a version of the stone soup fable set in China and illustrated cards for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game. In 2005, Muth collaborated with author Caroline Kennedy on A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children.

Bibliography

Muth has authored and illustrated a number of books for a variety of publishing houses.

Art collections

• Vanitas: Paintings, Drawings and Ideas Tundra Publishing, 1991
• Pictures Places Stone Allen Spiegel Fine Arts, 1993
• Koan: Paintings by Jon J Muth & Kent Williams with Kent Williams, Allen Spiegel Fine Arts, November 2001, ISBN 978-0964206939

Children's books authored and illustrated

• The Three Questions, Scholastic Press, April 2002, ISBN 978-0439199964
• Stone Soup, Scholastic Press, March 2003, ISBN 978-0439339094
• Zen Shorts, Scholastic Press, March 2005, ISBN 978-0439339117
• Zen Ties, Scholastic Press, February 2008, ISBN 978-0439634250
• Zen Ghosts, Scholastic Press, September 2010, ISBN 978-0439634304
• Hi, Koo!, Scholastic Press, February 2014, ISBN 978-0545166683
• Zen Socks, Scholastic Press, September 2015, ISBN 978-0545166690
• Mama Lion Wins the Race, Scholastic Press, August 2017, ISBN 978-0545852821
• Zen Happiness, Scholastic Press, January 2019, ISBN 978-1338346022
• Addy's Cup of Sugar, October 20, 2020 ISBN 978-0439634281

Theater adaptation

• Zen Shorts, adapted for stage by Rogue Artists Ensemble, 2015

T.V. adaptations

• Stillwater, Apple TV+, 2020–

Children's books illustrated

• Come On, Rain with author Karen Hesse, Scholastic Press, March 1999, ISBN 978-0590331258
• Putnam and Pennyroyal with author Patrick Jennings, Scholastic Press, November 1999, ISBN 978-0439079655
• Gershon's Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year with author Eric A. Kimmel, Scholastic Press, September 2000, ISBN 978-0439108393
• Why I Will Never Ever Ever Ever Have Enough Time to Read This Book with author Remy Charlip, Tricycle Press, September 2000, ISBN 978-1582460185
• Our Gracie Aunt with author Jacqueline Woodson, Jump At The Sun, April 2002, ISBN 978-0786806201
• Old Turtle and the Broken Truth with author Douglas Wood, Scholastic Press, October 2003, ISBN 978-0439321099
• No Dogs Allowed! with author Sonia Manzano, Atheneum Books, April 2004, ISBN 978-0689830884
• A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children with author Caroline Kennedy, Hyperion Books, September 2005, ISBN 978-0786851119
• I Will Hold You 'till You Sleep with author Linda Zuckerman, Scholastic Press, October 2006, ISBN 978-0439434201
• Mr. George Baker with author Amy Hest, Walker Books, June 2007, ISBN 978-0763633080
• A Family Christmas with selection by Caroline Kennedy, Hachette Books; First edition, October 2007, ISBN 9781401322274
• Stonecutter with author John Kuramoto, Feiwel & Friends, April 2009, ISBN 978-0-312-55456-9
• The Christmas Magic with author Lauren Thompson, Scholastic Press, September 2009, ISBN 978-0439774970
• City Dog, Country Frog with author Mo Willems, Hyperion Books, June 2010, ISBN 978-1423103004
• Poems to Learn by Heart with author Caroline Kennedy, Disney-Hyperion; First edition, March 2013, ISBN 1423108051

Comics/graphic novels

• Epic Illustrated #12, 19–21, 24, 31, Marvel Comics, June 1982 – August 1985
• Moonshadow #1–12 with author J. M. DeMatteis, Marvel Comics/Epic Comics, March 1985 – February 1987, collected as The Compleat Moonshadow which also includes Farewell Moonshadow, DC Comics, February 1998, ISBN 978-1563893438
• Dracula: A Symphony in Moonlight and Nightmares, Marvel Comics, 1986, ISBN 978-0871351715; NBM Publishing, January 1993 ISBN 978-1561630592
• New Mutants #62 with author Louise Simonson, Marvel Comics, April 1988
• Havok and Wolverine: Meltdown #1–4 with authors Walt Simonson, Louise Simonson and artist Kent Williams, Marvel Comics/Epic Comics, 1988–1989, collected edition March 2003, ISBN 978-0785110484
• M #1–4 based on the screenplay by Fritz Lang, Eclipse Comics, 1990–1992, collected edition Abrams Books, April 2008, ISBN 978-0810995222
• Ray Bradbury Comics #5 comics adaptation of Bradbury's story "The April Witch", Topps Comics, October 1993
• The Mystery Play with author Grant Morrison, DC Comics, January 1994, ISBN 978-1563891083
• The Mythology of an Abandoned City Tundra Publishing, June 1994, ISBN 978-1879450561
• The Sandman: The Wake contributed the story "Exiles" with author Neil Gaiman, DC Comics, December 1996, ISBN 978-1852867737
• Swamp Thing: Roots DC Comics, March 1998, 978-1563893773
• Silver Surfer #139–145 (#143–144 covers only) with author J. M. DeMatteis, Marvel Comics, 1998
• 9-11: Artists Respond, Volume One "Prayer" two-page story, Dark Horse Comics, January 2002 ISBN 978-0613508544
• Global Frequency: Planet Ablaze contributed the story "Big Skys" with author Warren Ellis, DC Comics, February 2004, ISBN 978-1401202743
• Lucifer, Book 11: Evensong contributed the story "Nirvana" with author Mike Carey, DC Comics, January 2007, ISBN 978-1401212001
• The Seventh Voyage: Star Diaries Author: Stanislaw Lem, Illustrator: Jon J Muth, Translator: Michael Kandel, Graphix, October 2019, ISBN 9780545004626

Awards

Books

• The Seventh Voyage
  • 2020, Eisner Nomination, Best Adaptation from Another Medium
• Moonshadow: The Definitive Edition
  • 2020, Eisner Nomination, Best Archival Collection/ Project-Comic Books
  • 2019, Broken Frontier Award, Best Collection of Classic Material
• Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons
  • 2016, Beehive Book Award, Winner in the Poetry Division
• Zen Socks
  • 2015, A Junior Library Guild Selection
• City Dog, Country Frog
  • 2010, A Junior Library Guild Selection
• A Christmas Magic
  • 2010, Ohioana: The Hamilton County Committee Program; In honor of Hamilton County Authors and Composers
• Stonecutter
  • 2010, Ohioana: The Hamilton County Committee Program; In honor of Hamilton County Authors and Composers
• Zen Ties
  • 2009, Illustrator of the Year, The Children's Choice Book Award
  • 2009, The Frances & Wesley Bock Book Award, Neumann University
  • 2009, Children's Choice Book Awards, Children's Book Council
  • 2008, Children's Picture Book Award, New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association
• Zen Shorts
  • 2006, Caldecott Honor, The Association for Library Service to Children
  • 2006, Book Sense Book of the Year, American Booksellers Association
  • 2005, Children's Picture Book Award, New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association
• The Three Questions
  • 2002, Children's Media Honor, Achievement in Picture Books, Parent's Guide to Children's Media, Inc., Board of Directors
  • 2002, HONORS Award, National Children's Publications Awards, National Parenting Publications Awards
• Gershon's Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year
  • 2000, Sydney Taylor Book Award, The Association of Jewish Libraries
• Come On, Rain
  • 1999, Gold Medal, The Society of Illustrators
• The Mystery Play
  • 1995, Best Painter, Will Eisner Comics Industry Award
• The Mythology of an Abandoned City
  • 1993, Best Graphic Album nomination, Will Eisner Comics Industry Award

Other

• Stillwater (Apple TV+ television series)
  • 2021, nomination, Annie Award
  • 2021, nomination, Emmy Award
  • 2021, recipient, Peabody Award
  • 2022, nomination, Annie Awards
  • 2022, recipient, Children's and Family Emmy Awards

References

External links

• Jon J Muth at Library of Congress, with 37 library catalog records