Books by Joe Mathieu

I generally illustrate books written by other people. I like working with authors, especially when I am fortunate enough to work with such great writers as Laura Numeroff, Dr. Seuss, and all the wonderful writers at Sesame Street. However, I have written and illustrated three books, even though I don't consider myself a writer. And yet, Big Joe's Trailer Truck has been translated into several languages!

I am also credited as author on several other books, usually Sesame Street books, where there was no manuscript, and therefore no author. In some cases, I was given a concept, and I "composed" a visual story line without words. Sometimes, a few words were added after the fact.

Big Joe's Trailer Truck

Big Joe's Trailer Truck follows a truck driver through a typical day at work. To be a truck driver was my fantasy job as a kid after I watched big rigs fly by our car when my family took a road trip across the United States. Big Joe is based on a trucker I knew when I was a kid, and takes place in the little New England town where I grew up.

The Olden Days

The Olden Days was written during the years when my wife and I would take our two children, Joe and Kristen, to Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA.