James Horvath facts for kids
James Horvath is a talented writer and artist who creates fun books for children. He is known for his popular series about construction dogs, like Dig, Dogs, Dig and Build, Dogs, Build. He also runs his own design company, Jamestoons Studios, where he creates illustrations for many different businesses.
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About James Horvath
James Horvath was born in South Amherst, Ohio. As a child, he loved to draw, but he wasn't sure how to turn his hobby into a job. After finishing high school, he tried out several different jobs. He worked in the Navy, in construction, and even as a bicycle messenger in Washington, D.C..
His journey back to art began in 1990 when he started using an Apple computer while attending Northern Virginia Community College. This experience helped him realize he wanted to work in illustration. Today, James Horvath lives in Morro Bay, California.
Jamestoons Studios and Influences
In 2002, James Horvath started his own company called Jamestoons Studios. Through his studio, he has created illustrations for many big companies. Some of these include Google, Nestlé, Reader’s Digest, Sprint, Tyco, and Toshiba International. His artwork has been used in advertisements, children's computer games, and other books.
When it comes to his art style, Horvath has been inspired by other famous artists and cartoons. He looks up to artists like Josh “Shag” Agle and Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel. He also gets ideas from classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
James Horvath's Books
James Horvath shared that the idea for his popular book series about dogs working in construction came from his own children. His sons loved to stop and watch building sites, and this gave him the perfect inspiration for his stories.
The "Dogs" Series
His first book, Dig, Dogs, Dig: A Construction Tail, was accepted by HarperCollins shortly after he attended a conference in 2011. This book tells the story of a group of dog construction workers building a new park. The publisher was so impressed that they offered him a contract for three books!
Dig, Dogs, Dig: A Construction Tail was released on April 23, 2013. The next book in the series, Build, Dogs, Build: A Tall Tail, came out on December 30, 2013. This story features the dog crew working on taking down and building a new tall building. The third book, Work, Dogs, Work: A Highway Tail, was released on September 23, 2014.
Book Reviews and Recognition
James Horvath's book series has received many positive reviews. Kirkus Reviews called the books "engaging and solid," meaning they are fun and well-made. The New York Times also praised his illustrations, saying they show his cartoon influences and feature "Hanna-Barbera panoramas." This means the pictures are wide and detailed, like scenes from classic cartoons.
Dig, Dogs, Dig was even named one of the Best Books of 2013 by Atlanta Parent magazine. The series is also liked for including female characters in the construction crew, showing that everyone can be part of the team. Many children and their parents love these books.
List of works
