Maxwell Eaton II ’04 owes his living to a toddler and a pig.  He’s the author and illustrator, testimony to his double major in English and fine arts, of three bestselling children’s books, the "Max and Pinky" series.

In Best Buds, Superheroes and, this fall, The Mystery, pals Max and Pinky have brought young readers along for their adventures. In The Mystery, the two have "painted the barn a nice, classic shade of red. But the next morning it's pink! They paint it again, but the very next day it's plaid! What is going on?! Something weird is going on - weird and mysterious! The best buds will ask the silliest questions, make the nuttiest alarm system, and get stuck in all sorts of places while searching - whatever it takes to crack the case!"

Maxwell, a ninth-generation Vermonter who now lives in Tucson, writes on the Random House blog, “I spent my childhood exploring woods, damming streams, building tree houses and pretending that I could understand what squirrels were saying. Looking back, I think my parents allowed my brother and me a reckless amount of freedom (‘Where were you last week?’) and were dangerously tolerant (‘If the squirrel told you to flood the neighbors’ basement, then who are we to argue?’). This made me more self-sufficient and capable in a world that demands a proficiency in snow-fort making and raft construction.  But despite a childhood spent mostly lost in the woods, I managed to devote a good amount of time to writing and drawing.”

More: The Max and Pinky Web site