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Another Nice Tasty Sweet

Maine 4-H Alumnus Publishes First Book

Chevy Chase, MD—4-H alumnus, Matt Watier, has published his first children’s book, A.N.T.S: Another Nice Tasty Sweet.

A.N.T.S is Watier’s first book as both an author and illustrator. It is the story of an insect community who finds the answer to a sticky problem by listening to their children. A giant sweet roll has dropped in their path. How shall they bring it home when it is beyond their combined strengths? The answer and the moral are wrapped in a whimsical story and enchanting paintings.

The book is the result of many years of hard work. That work began in a very familiar place—Watier’s 4-H club where the 25-year-old Union, ME, native focused on art and drawing. As a child, he often found himself waiting for other classmates to finish their work during class. So Watier would draw to keep himself busy.

Beginning 4-H at five years old, Watier’s first projects included helping his family raise sheep. But soon after, as he and his sister began to discover their individual skills, Watier turned to graphic design. His 4-H involvement and love for art won him a trip to National 4-H Congress. His art is also what gave him the chance to get involved with 4-H at a national level. His design for the 1994 National 4-H Conference logo was chosen, and from then he knew that he was destined for a career in art.

During college at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Watier continued to work with 4-H in designing the 4-H the Power of YOUth logo and one of the original site designs for www.4Hmall.org.

Watier drew his first illustration in sixth grade and later realized that illustrating children’s books was his calling. “I was in a bookstore once, and I saw a husband and his pregnant wife. The husband noticed a children’s book on the shelf and immediately recalled the days of his childhood. The man told his wife, ‘I want to get this for my son to read.’ It was then,” Watier said, “that I knew I wanted to create a children’s book—a book that will have that same impact on people.”

Watier is thrilled that his first published book is a collaborative piece with his father, Roland Watier. “My father approached me and asked if I wanted to illustrate one of his tales. He is a professional storyteller, and I naturally was excited about illustrating one of his oral stories. I wanted to pick a story that would stand out style-wise from my other books, so I picked the one called The Giant Sweet Roll, which through many editorial revisions is now called A.N.T.S,” he explained.

A.N.T.S: Another Nice Tasty Sweet is available here. Keep an eye out for much more to come from this talented 4-H alumnus!

Maine 4-H alumnus Matt Watier has published his first book, A.N.T.S: Another Nice Tasty Sweet.

”I can cut off a piece of the sweet roll,” said Jules to the ants, “a piece just big enough for me to carry over the log.”