The greatest people in history all have one importantthing in common – they each started out as aregular kid. That’ s the premise behind River Vale-based illustrator Chris Eliopoulos’ saward-winning series of non-fiction children’ s books, Ordinary People Change the World. Together with writer Brad Meltzer, Eliopoulos’ s drawings bring these inspiring stories to life for bothhis littlest and biggest fans.“ We want kids to know that we can all be heroes, no matterwho you are,” says Eliopoulos, 49, of the series, which includes 11 books so far with two more being released this October.
The first two, IamAmelia Earhart and IamAbraham Lincoln, came out together in 2014, hitting the New York Times best-seller listthe same day and establishing avast fan base that grows with each new release. Othersubjects range fromAlbert Einstein and Rosa Parks to Jackie Robinsonand Helen Keller. Eliopoulos drawseachbook’ s subjectasachild so young readerscan relate to them more.
“ If kids see these heroes as children, they betterunderstandthat theywere
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just ordinary kids and really gain the morals of these books,” he says.“ So we tell stories about their lives as kids and adults, but they’ realwaysalittle kid throughout the book.”
Aside from that, the books are as historically precise as possible.“ A lot of research goes into this to make sure kids get the real deal,” Eliopoulos says of the lengths he goes to to ensure his illustrations are accurate.“ We go to historians and the subject’ s family, and do everything we can to make sure we’ re telling the storyright.”
Eliopoulos has honed his skills since falling in love with comic books at age seven.
“ My uncleowned aremainder book company and my parents would take me to his warehouse on weekends, and I’ d sit in giant metal bins reading pocket cartoon books all day,” he says.“ Peanuts comics just did it for me and I’ ve been drawingever since.”
As acollege senior majoring in advertising, Eliopoulos took afield trip to Marvel Comics and knew he belonged there.“ I applied for an internship, showed themmygraphic design materials and theytook me in. And when school ended Iwent to work at Marvel the next day.”
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Though he started in production, preparing books for print, he was soon moved to lettering, eventually becoming head of the department.“ Back then everythingwas done by hand, so I’ d letter in the dialogue, put balloons around it and add sound effects, like‘ Kapow,’” Eliopoulos says.
Sensing that computers wouldbethe future of lettering, he built acompany to create hundreds of fonts that would ultimatelyletterall of Marvel’ s books.“ Most every Marvel comic you see on the stands these days contains fonts I created.”
Despite his other work, Eliopoulos was always drawing on the side, whetherhewas contributing illustrationstoabelovedMarvel seriesor working on his own books and comic strips, including his award-winning graphic novel Cow Boy.
“ The comics industry is pretty small and everybody knows of each other,” he says of connecting with Meltzer, a noted author, History Channel hostand comic book fan, on Twitter.“ Brad had written some one-page biographies to share withhis children, about heroes whose values they couldemulate. He emailed me and saidheloved my art
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COURTESY OF PENGUIN GROUP |
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26 APRIL / MAY 2017 |( 201) FAMILY |
201magazine. com |