Matt Sprouts
 | This article may incorporate text from a large language model. (December 2025) |
| Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes Matt Sprouts and the Day Nora Ate the Sun Matt Sprouts and The Search for the Chompy Wompers (forthcoming) | |
| Author | Matt Eicheldinger |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Matt Eicheldinger |
| Cover artist | Matt Eicheldinger |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Middle grade fiction, Children's literature, Humor |
| Publisher | Andrews McMeel Publishing (current) Wise Ink Creative Publishing (original) |
| Published | 2021–present |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback), E-book, Audiobook |
Matt Sprouts is a series of middle grade fiction books written and illustrated by American author Matt Eicheldinger. The series follows the adventures of eleven-year-old Matt Sprouts as he navigates the challenges of middle school life. The first book in the series became a New York Times and USA Today in 2024.[1]
Protagonist
[edit | edit source]The series centers on Matt Sprouts, an eleven-year-old boy described by the author as "relatable but imperfect",[2] who faces various challenges and adventures while learning important life lessons.[2] The character is semi-autobiographical, based on Eicheldinger's own childhood experiences growing up on Colorado's western slope.[3]
Books
[edit | edit source]Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes (2021/2024)
[edit | edit source]The debut novel follows Matt Sprouts after he accidentally injures his neighbor Jenna with a martial arts move, leading him to believe he has been afflicted with "the Curse," a local myth that ruins middle schoolers' lives.[4] Throughout the story, Matt experiences character growth, makes new friends, develops work ethic, and indeed breaks all ten of his toes.[4]
Matt Sprouts and the Day Nora Ate the Sun (2024)
[edit | edit source]The second book in the series, published in September 2024, features Matt's encounter with Nora the goat, described as a babysitting challenge unlike any other.[5]
Matt Sprouts and The Search for the Chompy Wompers (2025)
[edit | edit source]The third book in the series is scheduled for publication in Fall 2025.[2]
Development and publication
[edit | edit source]The series originated from Eicheldinger's teaching practice of sharing childhood stories with his students to build rapport.[6] He maintained a storytelling jar in his classroom filled with slips of paper containing titles of stories from his childhood, which became the foundation for the Matt Sprouts character and adventures.[7] He described the intended audience for the book as "reluctant or struggling readers" who would be kept engaged with a lighthearted and fast-moving plot.[2]
Eicheldinger both writes and illustrates the series, despite having no formal art training.[6] His illustration style developed from years of drawing his students as cartoon characters for end-of-year coloring sheets.[6] He has been drawing the Matt Sprouts character since third grade.[8] Eicheldinger deliberately chose not to illustrate certain characters, such as "The Purple Grape Lady," to allow readers to use their imagination.[2]
The first book wasriginally self-published in September 2021 through Wise Ink Creative Publishing.[9][better source needed] Andrews McMeel Publishing acquired the rights and republished it in March 2024.[1]
Reception
[edit | edit source]The first book won four national awards, including Indie Book of the Year, when first self-published in 2021.[9][better source needed] It was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller upon its traditional publication in 2024.[1]
Themes
[edit | edit source]The Matt Sprouts series explores themes common to middle-grade literature, including personal responsibility and consequence; friendship and social relationships; resilience and perseverance; self-discovery and character growth; and the balance between individual agency and external circumstances.[3] The books address the "illogical urgency of preadolescence" and the emotional swings between elation and devastation typical of middle school experiences.[3]
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Official book information on author's website
- Andrews McMeel Publishing - Current publisher