Sunday, November 30, 2014

The 5th annual auction for the Joe and Shirl Art Scholarships is now live! BID!



Please help me connect kids to an education in the arts by bidding!



Art was a transformative force in my life. It was a life-line during a time that I needed it most. When life at home was hectic, my sketchbook acted as a portal to any world, any reality of my making. I happened to make art my vocation, but not every kid does, and that's OK. Regardless of where one decides to take their talents, a strong education in the arts is integral to their development-as individuals and as learners. Having access to quality arts education not only helped me through difficult times, it also helped me become a creative problem solver. The jobs that our children will someday hold haven't even been invented yet, and that is just one of many reasons why we must provide our youth with adequate access to the arts.
When public funding eliminated the arts education in public schools in the 1980's, I was lucky enough to get sent to classes at the Worcester Art Museum. I was lucky because my grandparents, who raised me, could afford the tuition. At the Worcester Art Museum my world was opened up to classes in life drawing, cartooning and animation, amongst many others. And I gained camaraderie with peers who shared a similar passion for creativity-I was not alone!

I realize that some kids in my hometown may have a unique familial setup as I did, but whose caretakers may not have the resources to afford that tuition. I'm proud to continue to connect those kids with an arts education at the Worcester Art Museum with the 5th annual auction in support of the Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka Memorial Youth Scholarships at the Worcester Art Museum.
Here are the items up for bid in the 2014 auction, which will run until the evening of Sunday, December 7. You won't find items like this anywhere else. Every year I strive to offer something that is unique, and I never repeat items in consecutive years. So please, bid early and bid often--and thank you for helping me support art education!

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Photos from last weekend's events in NYC—Chris Van Allsburg & E.B. White

Last weekend was just a stellar one! I'm still wrapping my mind around it.

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Van Allsburg at the 92nd St Y. When the invite came in, I was already scheduled to be in California on that Friday to speak at the California School Nutrition Association's Conference. There was no way I was going to miss the opportunity to moderate a conversation with one of my literary heroes—and at such an iconic location, too! I flew a red-eye and made it to NYC on time. After only five hours of sleep on the plane, I managed to lead and nagging conversation on Mr. Van Allsburg's life and work. Here is a photo taken by the very talented Mike Curato:



The conversation was recorded and it will be published on the 92nd St Y podcast. More info as soon as I have it! (Spoiler alert: it got a little emotional at the end for everyone.)


On Sunday, I was at another iconic NYC venue—Symphony Space on Broadway. I hosted a fundraiser for First Book—Manhattan. It's an organization that is near and dear to my heart. Celebrated actors read the works of E.B. White, and it was...terrific! Not only did I host, but I also read the part of Wilbur. Was it intimidating to read alongside such giant talents? Well, when I first met everyone, it was during rehearsal. Imagine the shell shock of seeing Jane Curtin, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Potts, Naomi Watts and Live Schrieber walk onto stage with you? But they quickly put me at ease. David Hyde Pierce hit me on the shoulder, chuckled and said, "That was great!" after I read my first line. By the time the performance came along, all in trepidation had vanished, and I had a blast. The audio was recorded, and hopefully you will get to hear the inspired performances!





Check out more photos on Symphony Space's Facebook page here!

Here are a few of my favorite moments form the show:


Friday, November 21, 2014

I will handsell you books on the Saturday after Thanksgiving

Gina and I are ecstatic to help Odyssey Bookshop on Small Business Saturday! Come in for our book recommendations for holiday gift-giving. I'll be happy to sign any book that has my name on the spine. If you don't live nearby, you can even order autographed books online by following this link:  http://www.odysseybks.com/jarrett-krosoczka

Check out our fellow honorary booksellers!


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Essentials 2014 holiday window—from start to finish!



Visit Essentials in downtown Northampton to see what I did for their 2014 holiday window display! See below to learn how this window display came together!

And if you are visiting my blog for the first time—welcome! Learn more about my work and books at www.studiojjk.com!







More after the jump! Click on...


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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Boston-area event this Sunday!


An Interactive Afternoon with Jarrett Krosoczka & Jef...



An Interactive Afternoon with Jarrett Krosoczka & Jef Czekaj

Wondermore (formerly The Foundation for Children's Books)

Sunday, November 23, 2014 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (EST)

Newtonville, MA



Join us at this special afternoon with authors Jarrett Krosoczka and Jef Czekaj.  Participate in two interactive workshops and have a chance to meet the authors and get your books signed.  Limited space available.
Each child needs their own ticket and accompanying adults are free.  There is a max of 3 children per multi-child ticket. This event is best suited for children in grades 2-6.
Please bring paper, pencils and your imagination!
Authors are donating their time to lead this event and all proceeds directly benefit Wondermore.  




https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-interactive-afternoon-with-jarrett-krosoczka-jef-czekaj-tickets-14093151997

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Graphic-novel exhibit in Omaha, NE!



Attention Omahanians! "BAM! It's a Picture Book", the traveling graphic-novel exhibit featuring original Lunch Lady artwork and pieces by Raina Telgemeier, Lincoln Peirce, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Matthew Holm and Mark Crilley, has now opened at the Joslyn Art Museum. It will run through March 29, 2015.

I hope that you will be able to visit the exhibit!

More info here!

Thursday, November 06, 2014

First Book-Manhattan's E.B. White celebration is coming up!

I'll be reading the part of Wilbur at the E.B. White celebration at Symphony Space. Which cast members do you think will be reading for the other barnyard animals? Get your tickets for this First Book Manhattan fund raiser and find out Sunday, November 16th!  I'm honored to be returning as host to this terrific event! 
 





Monday, November 03, 2014

The big annual children's book art exhibit at R. Michelson Galleries opens this Sunday!




The big annual children's book art exhibit at  R. Michelson Galleries opens this Sunday! Mo Willems, Tony DiTerlizzi, Jane Dyer, Jerry Pinkney, Marc Brown & many more artists, plus all of the neighborhood authors like Jane Yolen, Heidi Stemple, Jeanne Birdsall and Norton Juster. See you there! 4-6 in Northampton, MA!

I'll be exhibiting work from Platypus Police Squad at this year's show!


Sunday, November 02, 2014

Halloween!

I received an embarrassment of riches this Halloween. And none of them will give me cavities! It's such an honor to have a place in the imaginations of young readers and their grown-ups. Here's a round-up of some of the awesomeness sent my way this Halloween.

Did you dress up as one of my characters?  I'd love to see photos if you are willing to share them, and if I'd love to post them to this blog if you are willing. Please email props@studiojjk.com. Thanks so much!




At the top of the list is this trick-or-treater that came to my house! He didn't dress up as one of my characters, but as one of my BOOKS! Yes, the actual book! Cover, spine, title page, back cover, bar code and all! (He got extra candy and autographed books...) Check it out! So incredibly creative!

Here's another special one. This is librarian Mary Lasley from Texas. If you watched the Symposium on the Reluctant Reader, you would have heard me referencing this amazing line that she gave in defense of graphic novels and comics. Do you remember the analogy of comics and the playground? That was her. Brilliant!


Ask yourself—Am I prepared for a ridiculously cute video? If so, check out Pig from Punk Farm, who went trick-or-treating in Oklahoma.







As you know, pumpkins are a HUGE deal in the Krosoczka house. Look at these fantastic creations that were sent in:

Detective Rick Zengo of the Platypus Police Squad! Sent in by
Purefoy Elementary in Frisco, Tx!


Punk Farm! Created by Fisher Elementary in Connecticut!
Shannon in Texas made this great Peanut Butter and Jellyfish pumpkin!

Check out this incredible Platypus Police Squad Jack O'lantern sent in by a young reader in Massachusetts! 




Not to be outdone, a lot of school librarians dressed up as Lunch Lady—even some school administrators! And I LOVE that the librarians are holding Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians in their photos. Check out this Lunch Lady love sent over via Twitter. (And how cute is that Babymouse?!












Elisa is a school librarian in Chicago, and get this—she made her own spatu-copter!


School librarian Jamie and her aide dressed as Lunch Lady and Betty. She also made some of LL's gadgets. Do you recognize these tools? 




Ralph and I also enjoyed our annual Halloween office party...