Matthew McElligott is the author and illustrator of many books for children including the Mad Scientist Academy series, Even Monsters Need Haircuts, Backbeard the Pirate, and the Benjamin Franklinstein series. His books have been published around the world in many languages on five continents. Recent awards include the 2012-13 Oregon Patricia Gallagher Picture Book Award for The Lion’s Share and the 2012-13 South Dakota Prairie Bud Children’s Book Award for Even Monsters Need Haircuts. When Matt is not writing, he teaches as a Professor of Graphic and Media Design at the Sage Colleges in Albany. He lives on a small farm in upstate New York with his wife and over a dozen chickens.