Shanghai American School welcomed three popular children’s book authors April 23–27. The visiting authors were Kazu Kibuishi, Phil Bildner, and Kevin Lewis, who taught us useful techniques and also made us all laugh. The visiting authors brought a passion for literature to SAS.
On the 23rd, the whole fifth grade gathered in the project area to see Kazu Kibuishi, who is a graphic novelist for the #1 selling Amulet series. In the beginning, Mr. Kabuishi talked about his life at the University of California, Santa Barbara, studying film even though he planned to be a graphic novelist. Mr. Kabuishi never thought that he would ever really become a graphic novelist until two years after his graduation.Before that he always believed that he was going to be either a director or an animator. During his college years, he talked about drawing the comics for the student newspaper, and even showed us some of his drawings. One of the most unforgettable things was that he is living proof that doing anything for 10,000 hours will allow you to succeed in that topic. He told us that he had already reached 10,000 hours drawing in high school and was aiming for 20,000 in college. It was interesting when he said that he encourages failure. He said that he learned so much from his failures.
After Mr. Kabuishi graduated, he got into numerous great companies, and even got promoted to a high position, but he rejected it. He knew that it was just not for him. So that’s when he decided that he was going to become a graphic novelist. All of his comics are like watching a movie in your head, because he always has had a passion for movies. Mr. Kabuishi showed us the procedure you had to go through to publish a book. At last, he painted a lively waterfall in just a few minutes using his computer; that image is still printed in my head. We also got a sneak peak at the iPad app for Amulet that is coming out in the summer holidays and the preview of the fourth Amulet book.
Phil Bildner gave us an amazing presentation that was extremely hilarious, and even got the teachers to laugh! The way he went through his works, carefully introducing each book, was very interesting. He told us he sometimes gets his ideas when he is out shopping. The best moment was when he said that all the bad characters in his books are always named after a teacher.
Kevin Lewis also did a great job with students on the writing process.
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