<p>Graphic artist Matthew Holm demonstrates how to draw Babymouse to a group of children and adults on Wednesday at the Athena Public Library.</p>

Matthew Holm grew up a regular kid, living in a regular suburb. He played all the regular games with his sister and three brothers, and every year they would pile in the car for a regular family trip.

Only now, Holm and his sister, Jenni, are the brains behind the extraordinary adventures of Babymouse, heroine of the childrens graphic novel series whose imagination takes her from rock star to dragon slayer.

Holm, a featured guest at this years Walla Walla Kids Read, made one final stop Wednesday evening at the Athena Public Library to discuss how his average childhood led to Babymouse, and inspire the next generation of authors and illustrators.

 Thats one of the things that tough to grasp when youre a kid, that authors are just people,?Holm said. Im hoping they will want to write and draw their own stuff, and just get excited about books and reading.

Kids of all ages gathered in the library as Holm explained where he and Jenni came up with the idea for Babymouse, and how they work together on new stories for each book. Some even had the chance to draw their own Babymouse cartoon, giggling over dialogue and scribbling bright pink across the page.

Holm always liked reading comics, he said, and eventually started doodling in school. Jenni, meanwhile, worked in television and wrote several other acclaimed childrens novels before creating Babymouse.

It was Jenni who sketched the first Babymouse design on a napkin 12 years ago, Holm said. The image had popped into her head on one of those real bad days of a frowning mouse with arms folded in attitude.

Though Holm admits he lost that original napkin, he managed to recapture the look and they soon had themselves a character:?a cupcake-loving, messy-whiskered rodent who thinks shes the queen of the world.

The brother-sister duo writes every Babymouse book using a storyboard, with Jenni outlining the narration, action and dialogue. Matthew Holm then illustrates a series of panels that match the story.

When I?started out, I?didnt know how to draw Babymouse. So I?had to practice,?he told the audience. I?had to keep sketching, keep scratching and keep getting her nose under control.

Finally, the kids had their chance to practice, too. Turning to a large pad of paper, Holm called on two brave artists for a draw-off?combining Babymouse and another of their original series featuring Squish, the grade-school amoeba.

Eleven-year-old Max, of Pendleton, took just five minutes to draw out an amoeba body and Babymouse face, and clever caption,?Why cant single-celled organisms have cupcakes?

I?guess I just looked at all the previous drawings and did it that way,?Max said. I?thought (Holms presentation) was really good. I?learned how complicated it is actually make a book.

The Athena Library Friends Association sponsored Holms appearance, and Director Carrie Bremer said she hopes it will only encourage kids to visit the library more.

I?think its wonderful whenever a child or adult can meet an author,?Bremer said. This is good, too, because hes a graphic artist. Theres lots of kids who like to draw.

Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4547.