Early childhood teacher Matty Mac publishes first children's book

He made the little guy in 1986 in a pottery class; these days Boris only has one eye after a "bad accident" befell him ... but that's a story for another time.

Matty, an early childhood teacher at Goodstart Early Learning in Pemberton Street, Albury, has another story close to his heart that he's launched into the universe to coincide with Book Week2020 .

He has written, illustrated, produced and printed his first children's book, Halley's Comets - The Astrobet, which is a fun-filled alphabet book about space and the universe.

It's the result of 35 years of "doodling and dreaming" and Matty says the book - featuring the adventures of four little comets and an asteroid - aligns well with this year's Book Week theme of Curious Creatures and Wild Minds.

"Everyone on the planet looks up at the night sky and wonders," he said.

"These characters are here to help teach us all a little about the wonders of the universe.

"(I believe) the best kind of learning occurs when we are having fun or experiencing a sense of enjoyment."

Matty started drawing the characters in 1986 when Halley's Comet passed Earth.

He admits to having a vivid imagination and a sense of wonderment about what lies beyond this world.

The Albury resident grew up in a printing family business and virtually "lived in dark rooms" while producing press plates and collating jobs for pocket money.

He has accumulated a "wheelbarrow full of paper and folios, ideas, paintings and story ideas".

Halley's Comets - The Astrobet is an alphabet book about space, comets, asteroids, the universe and more.

"Millions and billions and even gazillions of years ago Halley the Comet was just cruising the universe, doing his own thing," he says.

"But doing one's own thing can sometimes get you into a whole lot of trouble ..."

Join Halley, his brother Holmes (who occasionally pushes Halley into Black Holes), Astro (always on the go), Boris (with a life lesson about his one eye) and Nisbet (the smartest of the lot) on their travels around the universe.