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Michael Paraskevas

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Michael Paraskevas
Born1961 (age 62–63)
Alma materSchool of Visual Arts
Occupation(s)Illustrator, cartoonist, animator
Years activec. 1985–present
Notable workMaggie and the Ferocious Beast
Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse
The Kids from Room 402
The Tangerine Bear
SpouseMaria Bruno[1]
MotherBetty Paraskevas
Websitewww.michaelparaskevas.com

Michael Paraskevas (born 1961)[1] is an American illustrator, cartoonist, and animation producer best known for co-creating along with his mother Betty in the Canadian animated children's television series Maggie and the Ferocious Beast.[2] The show was based on the 1996 book The Ferocious Beast with the Polka-Dot Hide and its sequels, all of which were also created by the Paraskevases.[3] Together, they authored 20 children's books.[4] and created three animated series: Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse, and The Kids from Room 402. They also produced and created The Tangerine Bear as a direct-to-video Christmas special.

Michael Paraskevas's illustration work has appeared in magazines all over the world, including Time, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, Town & Country, Esquire, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.

Biography

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Paraskevas graduated from the School of Visual Arts[1] (SVA) in 1984. Studying illustration and journalism, he received his MFA from SVA in 1986.[5]

The Paraskevas strip Junior Kroll ran weekly for ten years in Dan's Papers in Bridgehampton and New York. Junior Kroll also ran as a monthly feature for five years in United Airlines' Hemispheres magazine. Paraskevas's Green Monkeys is currently running in Dan's Papers as a weekly comic strip and is soon to be syndicated.[citation needed]

Until her death in 2010, Betty and Michael owned and operate The Paraskevas Gallery in Westhampton Beach.[1]

Bibliography

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With Betty Paraskevas, unless otherwise noted
  • On the Edge of the Sea (Dial Books, 1992)
  • Junior Kroll (HMH Books for Young Readers, 1993)
  • Shamlanders (Harcourt Childrens Books, 1993)
  • The Strawberry Dog (Dial Books, 1993)
  • Junior Kroll and Company (Harcourt Brace & Company, 1994)
  • A Very Kroll Christmas (Harcourt Childrens Books, 1994)
  • Gracie Graves and the Kids from Room 402 (Harcourt Childrens Books, 1995)
  • Cecil Bunions and the Midnight Train (Harcourt Childrens Books, 1996)
  • The Ferocious Beast with the Polka-Dot Hide (Harcourt Childrens Books, 1996)
  • The Tangerine Bear (Harpercollins Childrens Books, 1997)
  • Hoppy and Joe (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 1999)
  • Maggie and the Ferocious Beast: The Big Scare (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 1999)
  • The Big Carrot: A Maggie and the Ferocious Beast Book (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2000)
  • On the Day the Tall Ships Sailed (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2000)
  • (solo) L.A. Times (Paraskevas Gallery, 2001)
  • Nibbles O'Hare (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2001)
  • Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2001)
  • The Green Monkeys (Paraskevas Gallery, 2002)
  • The Green Monkeys in the Hamptons (Paraskevas Gallery, 2012)
  • (solo) The Green Monkeys' Daily Comics: The Daily Adventures of Spider and Flytrap (Kindle Edition, 2014)
  • (solo) Mr. Moon (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2016)
  • (solo) The Green Monkeys Making America Green Again (Kindle Edition, 2017)

Animation

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Television series

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Television specials

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Currently in development[citation needed]

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  • Jerolemon Street
  • Junior Kroll (Paraskevas Studios)
  • Green Monkeys (Paraskevas Studios)
  • Peter Pepper Pet Spectacular
  • Hoppy and Joe (Paraskevas Studios)
  • Leo Spats Ratcatcher (Paraskevas Studios)
  • Taffy Saltwater

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Weiner, Sue. "Hamptons Artist Michael Paraskevas On His New Book And His Inspiration: His newest children's book, Mr. Moon, is a collaboration with his wife, Maria," Patch (Aug 12, 2016).
  2. ^ Stamler, Bernard (June 18, 2000). "Mother, Son and TV Animation". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  3. ^ "Inside Maggie and the Ferocious Beast". Parents-Choice.org. Parents' Choice Foundation. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  4. ^ Tagliaferro, Linda (May 19, 1996). "Writer Mother and Artistic Son Beget an Impish Offspring". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  5. ^ "About," Michael Paraskevas official website. Accessed Dec. 3, 2019.
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