I was informed about this organization doing some great work to inform everyday folks about the work that educators, teachers, and advocates for literacy do to bring fresh and diverse stories to class rooms. They also provide resources for educators. On their Youtube you can see a varety of different writers sharing their expertise or experiences and they play a key role in helping parents and community members understand what real life teachers are and are not doing in the classroom.
Hey, the Bay Area Book Festival is upon us and I am happy to be participating as a panelist on May 31st and June 1st. The above panel on Day 2 of the fair will be for all those folks in the Bay who are thinking of self publishing or getting into the children’s book industry and want to hear about the strategies we emplored to get in. Panelists Zetta Elliott, Maya Gonzales, Matthew Smith, myself, and moderator Laura Atkins have a combined 80+ years worth of experience working in this field. Come thru!
This is a great short film about the lives of 3 descendants of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, New York, and Chicago. These are the grown kids of some heavy hitters and have some very vulnerable and powerful words to share about their upbringing. With chapters all across the United States and many internationally, the Black Panther Party for Self Defense influenced activism all over the world and still scares the powers that be now. But that came at great sacrifice and as a child of movement parents, I know this one well. I’m happy to see this doc. Please watch it and share it.
Nzingha didn’t like Richie when school started in September. In fact, they argued over pencils, erasers, foursquare, and school march slogans all winter. But, after he’d shared some of his lunch with her she gave him a slice of fruit, maybe two. Mr Newton asked them to call a truce so they did and. Nzingha started to pick Richie for her team when she was captain of the basketball team. He invited her to play soccer afterschool and in April they both decided to dress up like they’re grandparents for 70’s day and well….Richie made her smile on Friday. They’ve been best friends ever since.
This is a short story about two enemies turned best friends, the clothes they wear represent two historic youth lead activists groups. The Black Panther Party for Self Defense and The Brown Berets.
What is this? This is a short story. They are a way for me to sharpen my skills, to play, and to stretch out by trying new ideas for stories. In 2010 they started off as a way to practice the format of picture books but I’m interested in other formats now too. My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo and my most recent book is Fresh Juice/ Jugo Frescopublished by Lee & Low Books.
Fam, its been a minute since I shared a children’s portrait and this is number 80! This is a portrait of a young boy named Dream. His mom and family have been supporters of my creative work for over a decade from books to portraits. I painted her oldest child ZULU back in 2017! Dream is his younger bro 🙂
Check out this video timelapse of me painting him as well as some process shots below.
I haven’t done many of these time lapse videos but I’ve been getting more and more comfortable using my phone to document my work and doing a low lift like this is a step forward. I import short videos into I-Movie and cut them together in a way that was but it is no longer challenging. Link to watch.
This is a book I illustrated several years ago and this is a read aloud of the story “Alejandria Fights Back” in English. Enjoy. Please request this book at your local library or independent bookstore.
A BIG Thank you is in order. My YouTube just hit 700+ subscribers. This is tiny 4 some but its big for me. Thx if u watched, shared, or subscribed. To put this in perspective, before the pandemic I had a bout 60-70 subscribers. If u have any Qs you’d like to see me explore feel free to comment on my videos or message me.
Whenever kids ask me how I got started making art I tell them: defacing public and private property. Here’s someone I saw “up” a lot as a kid-KR. Didnt know he was from NYC but I saw him a lot! I remember the drippy tags and I remember when KRINK became a brand.
This was cool. I’ve never ever done a school visit in Union City. I met an educator named Roxanne Ramirez at the San Jose Made last year who has been a teacher for over 20 years. Not only that but shes an ethnic studies educator. Anyways, she invited me to her school in the Southern part of the Bay Area and I spoke to a whole bunch of students from 1st grade up to 5th.
They kids were super sweet, curious, and inquisitive so I had fun chopping it up with them, asking them questions, and being silly.
Some of the things we talked about or did on the first day were:
Several picture book readings
Q & A about writing and drawing
Revising your work, working with a team
Fruits, veggies, and community
Different types of family structures
Some of the things we talked about on the second day were more focused on:
Character design
Art Books
Figure drawing
Collaboration
Public Art/ Graffiti
Video Games, Animation, Film
Social Justice
I really had a blast drawing with them and talking with these young minds, meeting their teachers, their principal, and many of the staff members. And I hope to make it back to this school again in the future.
School and Library Visits: I’ve been visiting students as a storyteller since 2012 yall. I started as an illustrator first and then I became an author. I visit many schools every single year. I’ve been all over the Bay Area and Ive read to students in California, Texas, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Ohio. At this point I’ve visited over 100 libraries and schools. Recently I put out the call to visit more cities in Northern and Central California. If you’d like to invite me to visit your school or library in the Bay or outside of it, I’m open to travel! Shoot me an email at info@robdontstop.com
These are the educators who spend countless hours prepping, reading, researching, and teaching our babies. They were kind enough to take a picture with me. Photos by Victor Guzman Benitez and Roxanne Ramirez. Shout out to the Social Justice Academy and the Ethnic Studies educators there. Hella appreciate y’all!
Emergency Quarters by Carlos Matias and Gracey Zhang is a really dope new picture book that I read with my daughter recently. Check out this video where I explain a bit about the book!
This is a dope story about responsibility, bravery, and trust as this kid is maturing enough that he can walk to school by himself. When he goes his Mama gives him quarters to call her in case of an emergency. On his travels we see his community and all kinds of temptation haha. Matias and Zhang did an incredible job with this one. Hats off to the editor, art director, publisher, and agencies involved
Review it on The Story Graph! Request it at your local library or independent bookstore.
What’s this? Whew, I’ve read over 500 picture books y’all! An author who I admire and respect “Adrianna Cuevas” was sharing her favorite books and it inspired me to share some of mine with you. I’ve read ok books, garbage ones, and some that I think are incredible examples of the picture book format. Here and on the socials I’ll be recommending some of my favs. Please support your community and the creators by requesting them at your library or local independent bookstore. Peace. My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo. I am the author and illustrator of Fresh Juice.
Dig this? Check out these reviews of my book Fresh Juice
