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School or Library Visit

School visit-CCA Picture Book Workshop 2

Alright so I must be lucky or highly favored or something because I’ve been invited to give a workshop to young artists at one of the most prestigious art schools in the Bay; California College of the Arts. And, they allowed me to come in and speak about a format of art that i LOVE. Picture books!!!!!

I’ve taken classes about making picture books. I have literally read hundreds of them. I’ve illustrated them, and written a few. I love making them, reading them, studying them, and I have enjoyed sharing what I know about the mechanics of picture books as I understand them.

OG artist, Papa, cartoonist, and professor Fred Noland invited me to speak and I began by talking about my non linear path to a career in the arts. I laid out a series of picture books for the students to check out. Some really old, some from the last twenty years, some new ones, and some of my own.

On the table is a series of picture books by creators that also worked in comics.

In this workshop I focused on:

  • Character
  • Story taglines
  • Synopsis
  • Thumbnails
  • Picture book spread

I asked the students to go through the process of coming up with a picture book story as an exercise and they DID! We used original and existing characters to achieve this. Then we shared them so they could see each others work.

I started doing a similar method of exercise that I began doing 20 years ago teaching while teaching graffiti lettering to young people all over the Bay Area and NYC. Its a way for me to teach but also for them to learn from their peers who inevitably have a different take on it.

All in all, one of my favorite things about being a visiting artist for high school or college undergrads is being able to give no bullshit answers about what its like to make your living doing this. Sometimes the answers are dreamy and sometimes they’re more blunt. Fred’s class had great energy and questions. I feel like I learned from them too.

Dig this? Check out these other visits to colleges.

October 12, 2025
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School Visit – San Francisco State University

This past month I got the opportunity to speak to undergrad and graduate students in “Ethnic Studies” and the “Department of Latino/a Studies” at San Francisco State University (SFSU) in California. Leticia Hernandez-Linares, a bad ass poet, professor, mama, activist, and my co-creator of “Alejandria Fights Back/ La Lucha de Alejandria” invited me to speak to a room full of students of all ages.

SFSU is the first college I went to straight out of high school. While there I took classes in design, fine art, and ethnic studies before transferring to an art school. I didn’t realize it then, but going to a school so rich in different types of people, and having access to so much knowledge about my culture was a gift. It was once I went to other schools that I realized what I took for granted. SFSU is the first college alongside UC Berkeley to fight for a curriculum that centered Black, Brown, indigenous, and Asian American history in the United States ever! Also know as Ethnic Studies which I talk about a lot here. Learn more about that college HERE.

Short videos about Ethnic Studies

I spoke about:

  • A career in the arts
  • Benefits/ effects of Ethnic Studies courses at SFSU and how I incorporate it into art
  • Public Art
  • Freelance Illustration
  • Political Art
  • Children’s Books
  • Solidarity and coalition building

Walls by muralist Juana Alicia (mural by artist above left), was greeted by the mural of Malcolm X by Spie One (above right).

While I was there I took a very brief walk on campus to reminisce about some of the buildings. The quad, the cafeteria, the huge grass field, the murals, etc. As a student I often attended my classes and went back to Oakland and Berkeley to hang with my homies. While I love them and doing that, I built some strong bonds w/other students and wish I would’ve taken advantage of the container of community there.

I spent sooo much time in this building as a student there. Books, food, sleeping, lol. Even met the mother of my first child there, ha!

I had a great time speaking to the students and I’m trying to be honest, forthcoming, respectful, and open minded not only as a visiting speaker but as someone who answers questions about what its like to be a professional artist or to be multi-disciplinary in my work.

Dig this? Check out these other visits to colleges and libraries.

October 12, 2025
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School Visit – Lincoln Elementary

Thanks to the organizing and kindness of Aspire Education in Oakland who provide tutoring, mentoring, and support to public school students in the Bay Area I was able to read to Lincoln Elementary. All photos by Beau Tindle.

Lincoln is smack dab in the middle of Oakland’s Chinatown and has a predominantly AAPI student body, but a lot of families from different backgrounds are mixed in there.

Staff from Community Reading Buddies and Aspire provided information and resources for the family, pizza, salad, cookies, and snacks, and free books!

As families started to pour in and get ready for me to read I began getting my daughter and my presentation set up.

I began reading “Fresh juice” published by Lee & Low Books to the little kids, tweens, and parents and found everyone super engaged, responsive, and curious.

There were several copies of the book given away that evening and many folks followed along with me as I read the story. I’ve read a hundred times but its still fun to engage the audience with details from their life experience like taking public transportation, going to farmer’s markets, or the kinds of fruits and veggies we eat at home or school.

After I read the book I got to share a little bit of the art process as I often do. I walked around showing my sketchbook as well. While it is nice to get ooh’s and ahhh’s from young people seeing your drawings, I don’t remember ever meeting an author or illustrator in school as a shorty. The work organizations like Aspire Education do is vital, for inspiration and academic success. So, I hope that some of them will be inspired to draw or write for books.

If you haven’t read “Fresh Juice” you can watch and listen to a reading HERE by actor Da’Vine Joy Randolph courtesy of Storyline Online and SAG Aftra Foundation.

One of the coolest things about my job by far is meeting young people who are not just artists, writers, change makers, etc but literally the future. This one was super fun too. If you’d like to invite me to come visit your school or library, check my contact page and hit me up.

Dig this? Check out these other school or library visits:

August 20, 2025
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Photos from Storyland Reading @ Kinfolx

This past June I read at a great cafe called Kinfolx in Oakland for a team of story lovers called “Storyland” started by Indya McGuffin and Bean Tupou. They are a new organization trying to bring stories to families.

It was a great event and my brother Eli Jacobs Fantauzzi (Fist Up Films) came through and blessed us with some photos from the event!! This one above is me sitting behind Indya and Bean.

During and after the readings they had coloring supplies and pasta shells there for making necklaces or bracelettes! Activities are always a hit with kids; especially those who have wiggles and want to move their hands, arms, etc.

Here’s a photo of the amazing set up Marcus Books had at the event! In case you didn’t know, Marcus is the oldest Black owned bookstore in the Bay!

Chapter 510 was also there with books created by young people and information about the incredible work they do as a literary organization that gives kids instruction and space on creative writing.

Here are some fotos from my portion of the reading. Eli really captured the work Bean and Indya put into the event because it was packed with families!

This was super fun and a great way to spend Juneteenth reading stories featuring Black families:) The babies had lots of questions and very cute comments to share as always!

That’s it fam. I’ve linked all the folks involved so please scroll back up to learn more about them.

Dig this? Check out these fotos from my visit to Alvarado elementary in Union City.

July 11, 2025
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School Visit – Alvarado Elementary

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

Dig this? I did a picture book workshop for CCA college students in the comics MFA program.

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!

Videos:

March 19, 2025
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School Visit-Garden Village

This past week I got the chance to visit a school out in Daly City CA called Garden Village for #ReadAcrossAmerica week. Ive been to a few San Francisco schools but never to Daly City to read so this is new territory. I spoke to a class of Kindergarten students and 4th graders. Its was lots of fun and the kids had great energy and questions. I hope to make it out there again soon.

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

Dig this? Check out this visit these photos from my visit to a school during the Texas Book Festival or my visit to Berkeley Public Library.

March 9, 2025
in General, School or Library Visit
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Read Aloud of Alejandria Fights Back/ La Lucha de Alejandria

Skip to 7 min mark to hear the story.

This is a book about an Afro Latina elementary student who’s facing eviction. Her mom doesnt want them to rock the boat, her abuela meanwhile wants to fight. Alejandria has to decide. I illustrated this book during the pandemic and wanted to share it again today because it reminds me that whether some parents want to hear it or not, children like Alejandria exist and are either houseless or facing housing insecurity!

Synopsis: For nine-year-old Alejandria, home isn’t just the apartment she shares with Mami and her abuela, Tita, but rather the whole neighborhood. Home is the bakery where Ms. Beatrice makes yummy picos; the sidewalk where Ms. Alicia sells flowers with her little dog, Duende; and the corner store with friendly Mr. Amir.

But lately the city has been changing, and rent prices are going up. Many people in el barrio are leaving because they can no longer afford their homes, and “For Sale” signs are popping up everywhere. Then the worst thing happens: Mami receives a letter saying they’ll have to move out too.

Alejandria knows it isn’t fair, but she’s not about to give up and leave. Join Alejandria as she brings her community together to fight and save their neighborhood!

Publisher link cop it or request it at your local library.

Dig this? A bit of process for the cover for this book.

March 3, 2025
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ASK: Help w/Norcal school visits

Hey fam, hope you are well despite the many struggles that come w/ surviving in capitalism. I made this graphic because while I have been visiting schools, libraries, and organizations for over 13 years there still a lot of Northern California cities where I’m from that I have not visited. Some of these I’ve never visited as an author/illustrator and some of them not nearly enough. I get lots of visits from my hometown of Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, etc. but I would like to venture beyond my area more in 2025 and the coming years.

Note: When I speak to children I am respectful and kind, but I am very honest about things like systems of oppression, war, genocide, sexism, racism, etc. I do however try to tailor my words to be appropriate to the age I’m speaking to.

Would you like to invite me to talk to your students or families? Do you know a teacher, librarian, or organizer in one of these cities who would invite me to speak to their students? What can I offer?

  • TK-3rd grade– Picture book readings
  • 3rd-8th grade– Art book + literacy (Illustration, gaming, fashion, animation, makers)
  • High School/College– A career in the arts presentation (murals, illustration, kids books)

How do you get in contact with me? Use the contact form on my website, dm me, or email me at info@robdontstop.com

Dig this? Here are some past school visits to check out:

January 15, 2025
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Reading at Casa Apoyo SF

Yo, I want to give a huge shout out to my sis Nancy from Latino Task Force in San Francisco, Jen Woo from SF Public Library, Patty from the YMCA, and all the librarians, volunteers, educators who came to this reading and presentation. Normally I’m in a classroom or library but it was dope to be here. Casa Apoyo or “Support House” is a hub for community resources in San Francisco’s Excelsior district where local familes can come get a bike, groceries, clothing, legal services, housing resources, and more.

Some fotos from inside the organizational hub!

As you can see in the above photos the spot is a hub, elders, women, and youth were coming in and out to get food and serve it. A was a perfect place to talk about my latest book because the theme is community.

I did a reading and presentation in English and Spanish. We talked about

  • Bilingual picture book reading
  • The importance of reading, writing, and literacy
  • Animation, gaming, engineering, art making, illustration
  • Art education through school, friends, sketchbooks, and self guided practice
  • The power of community, healthy foods, and more
  • We also talked about team work, editors, art directors, and collaboration
Via SF Days

Hopped on Bart from Fruitvale station in Oakland to Balboa next to Balboa HS and walked to Mission st where the org was.

Latino Task Force, SFPL, and several volunteers

During the reading Latino Task Force, SF Public Library, and several volunteers got the ingredients from the juice in the book ” Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco” , and juicers ready for the young people to not only taste, but to make themselves by putting the ingredients into the juicer and then they provided each kid a take home bag w/ more of the sme ingredients so they could share it with their family. These lovely folks also gave away English and Spanish copies of the book to each kid or adult who came.

Wanna invite me to speak or read to you students in elementary, high school, or college? Email me at info@robdontstop.com

I also brought my sketchbook, original drawings, and paintings and I passed them around while adults and children asked questions. It was amazing y’all and at that point it was beyond me as an individual and more about the concept of the story and the idea of interacting w/ a working artist/writer. Hasta la Proxima.

Dig this? Check out the time I got to speak to college students and educators at Modesto Jr College, or my last visit to El Cerrito Public Library

October 11, 2024
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