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
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!
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:
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.
If youre in the Alameda area I welcome you to come hear me talk about art, books, career, and making it in kidlit. If youre in Alameda, come check me out and ask questions!
I didn’t mean to get emotional, it just happened. Ok so recently the wonderful people over at the El Cerrito Public Library invited me to do a visiting author presentation for staff and patrons. It is only the second time I’d been back at this libary since I was a child.
Lemme back up a bit. I was born and raised in Oakland primarily, but I’ve lived in cities all over the east bay and had family and grand parents in San Francisco. I went to a little school called Fairmont in El Cerrito and the public library was attached to it. I never went back to the school or the library since I was a kid because it was not the most welcoming space for me as a child. When my friend and local poet Dani Gabriel released her book “Sam!” that was the first time I’d been back in the building in over 25 years.
When I gave my presentation about a career in the arts, working in murals and making art for social justice movements, picture books, art Books and more I broke down a bit because of all the memories of being mistreated at my elementary school and the library.
BUT, a lot has changed and I’m happy to report that this library is a welcoming and loving space. Shout out to Therese Dix, Heidi Goldstein and all the staff I met there recently. The library has books that are diverse in ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and so much more. The vibe and array of colors sing when you walk in now and that makes me really happy for the up coming generation of children so they can not only see themselves and feel welcome, but find a joy in reading. VISIT THIS LIBRARY.
Photo credit: Tom Rogers, El Cerrito Public Library, and me
Also, I took a short trip to visit my friend Robin Yee Wilson at the Educators Book Depot in Richmond. This is a place where teachers can come and get free kids books for their classroom libraries and Robin slowly trying to get the word out to Contra Costa teachers that such a recource exists. Especially for those teachers who are working with tiny or non existent budgets. VISIT THEM HERE.
Hey this past week I had a chance to do a workshop introduction to picture books at CCA (California College of the Arts) for a group of MFA Comics students. I don’t know if they enjoyed it but I had hella fun. I brought a gang of picture books in English, Spanish, different mediums, newer ones, older ones, and different types of people. I talked about my most recent book “Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco” and many others by some of my favorite authors and illustrators. Photos by Thi Bui.
In this workshop we discussed:
Establishing a character design
Brainstorming and writing a story tagline
Synopsis of story
Storyboarding/ Thumbnailing a book
Rough sketches
Picture book layout, mechanics
Breaking into the industry
Building community
I have been consulting with individuals and organizations for years about how to make picture books and after doing this workshop I realized how much I really enjoyed talking about what it takes to make one live and in person. If you’re interested in getting some basic info from me about it, check out this PDF I made for newbies.
If you’d like to schedule a consultation or invite me to speak at your college please email me at info@robdontstop.com
BIG shout out to my homie and big sis Thi Bui (The Best We Could Do) who is a phenomenal cartoonist, illustrator, and professor. Big shout out to the homie Justin Hall, another fabulous cartoonist and professor who invited me to lead a workshop alongside some greats such as Ajuan Mance, Fred Noland, and Tyler Cohen.
These photos were taken by teachers in the classroom at SF Brightworks a school out in the Presidio area of San Francisco. I spoke to 3rd graders and Kinder students.
I’m blessed that I get to speak to youth tomorrow at @rocktheschoolbells about one of my favorite things!!! Art Books and Education, specifically I’m going to converse with them about doorways to creative fields and what part inspiration can play in liberation.
If you’ve got kids going to the 17th annual “Rock The School Bells” a dope conference for youth about hip hop history, skills, workshops, performance, and knowledge send em my way 🙏🏾 check out my bro OG @dodatamen who will be rocking as well!! @skyline_college in #SanBruno California.
For more information about location, time, and all the other speakers please go to RockThe School Bells
This week I had a chance to volunteer for this week for Children’s Book Project in San Francisco with students from Guadalupe Elementary School. I read my book in Spanish and it was a blast! Here are some more photos from the reading where I got to meet the super sweet staff.
