More Nice Things...

Another nice note about my school visits...

"Michael was great!! He talked about the writing process in a way that kids (and teachers) could understand and appreciate. He held their interest all the way through. I would recommend him for any school function."

-Tiffani Stewart, Librarian/Media Specialist @ J.M. Ullom Elementary, Las Vegas NV

Another Dude!

Why aren't there more children's books about rock? My boys, who are five, and six-and-a-half, love to jump around shirtless like little Iggy Pops swinging their Paper Jamz guitars. They like the music loud and fast. They love The Beatles, Weezer and The Ramones. Since no one else is doing it, I have decided that I am going to make it my business to write some books about rock.

This started as a joke, but as I think about it, picture books are like good rock singles. They're short, to the point, vivid, full of catchy hooks, memorable lines, have some sort of emotional resonance, and when they're over you want to experience them again.

"He is SO awesome!"

This nice e-mail came in the other day...

"Michael Rex's presentation was perfect for our kindergarten and first grade students. He described the creative processes of writing and illustrating in a clear and entertaining fashion. The children had fun learning how to draw their own Furious Georges. Michael received rave reviews from teachers, the librarian, and the students. One child was overheard saying, "He is SO awesome!" We agree, and we highly recommend his school visits!"

--Melissa Azarian, Co-chair of PTO Visiting Authors Committee, Long Hill Township

Ta-Da!

Here's a shot from a very fun school visit at The Gillette School in New Jersey. I don't post many photos from school visits because they usually have kids in them, and I want to respect everyone's privacy.

That being said, I have no idea what I'm doing in this photo. I'm sure it has something to do with adding motion and excitement to a drawing. Or maybe I was wrapping up the dance part of my presentation...