It’s an honor and a pleasure to share the stories behind my books with the kids who read them. The goal of my visits is to interest kids in how the stories that they read have been told, and to inspire them to tell stories of their own.

My presentation—a quick-paced slide show—begins with books that I loved and drawings that I made when I was an elementary school student myself. (Kids will recognize the subject matter in my early drawings: cars, trucks, monsters, Bert and Ernie, Spider-Man, dinosaurs.) I show how I kept drawing through school, and how a class in college lead to a career making children’s books.

I talk about inspiration. Someone always wants to know, “Where do you get your ideas?” Sometimes ideas do just come to an author or artist, I answer. But nobody can count on that. As Jack London said, “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”

Writers don't only write what they know, as the familiar advice goes; writers also write what they want to know. I want students to see that the creative process is a way to engage and learn about and and understand the world. To help me make that point I show the research that goes into making a book, all kinds of research: books, trips to museums and zoos, visits to dance studios, model cars, even the careful use of a Buzz Aldrin action figure.

Students see early sketches, storyboards, and book dummies. They see how each plays a different role in the bookmaking process, and hear how the particular qualities of the physical book influence the way authors and illustrators tell stories in books.

I talk about working with editors and art directors and show students something they will recognize from their own lives: work that has come back covered with notes and suggestions. I want kids to understand that art requires persistency, thought, and work. Rewarding, purposeful, and enjoyable work—but work.

Finally, I share pictures of my studio in Brooklyn and show the tools I use to make my drawings. Videos embedded in the slide show help me explain details of the process and tools.

I give the presentation with humor and energy, and work to keep the audience’s interest. Questions and sketching follow the presentation.

The presentation's focus and tone can shift to fit different grade levels, schools, and classes. Presentations can be geared to younger grades, with an emphasis on the picture books The Racecar Alphabet, Lightship, and Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11, or to older grades, with an emphasis on Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring, Marty McGuire, and/or Avi’s Poppy Stories, and with a more in-depth conversation about the bookmaking process. I'm happy to center the presentation on any particular book or genre that a school has been studying.

Small print:

The slide show clocks in at about thirty minutes, leaving fifteen to twenty minutes for the Question and Answer and sketching period. The school provides an 18" x 24" pad for sketches. (The drawings stay with the school.)

I show my presentation from my laptop, which can plug into any A/V system with a VGA connection. Full setup and A/V requirements are here.

The fee for a school visit is $1200 for a full day, which can include up to three presentations. Lodging and transportation, where necessary, must additionally be provided. If your school is local to my neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Boerum Hill), a half-day visit and single presentation can be arranged for $500.

(About the fee. Over the years, and to my disappointment, I've learned that when I am at work, I am making a living, and when I'm not, I'm not. I’ve tried to set a fee in line with what other authors and illustrators are charging. If my fee is not a good fit with your school’s budget, I hope—and expect—that you can find someone else whose fee feels more comfortable. You can find a link to a list of other Simon & Schuster authors here.)

For further information, please send an e-mail to brian (at) brianfloca.com. Please include “school visit query” or “mail from brianfloca.com” in your subject heading.

Thanks for your interest.

“Brian took our students on an exciting journey through his creative and writing processes with his lively presentation. He brought us up close and personal into his New York City studio. He delved into the intricacies of his research by sharing his travel experiences and how they influence his artwork. Brian had each and every student in the palm of his hand with an intimate portrait of his life and work. His presentations are extremely entertaining and he related as beautifully to our first graders as he did to our sixth graders.”

Barbara Burns, Lower School Librarian, Norfolk Academy, Norfolk, VA

“Brian Floca captivated students with his good humor and inventive presentation. Whether connecting the beginnings of his career to childhood drawings of dinosaurs or describing how being curious—about race cars or ships or space—can to lead to a book, Mr. Floca emphasized that the passion a writer needs lies in everyone. His impact was lasting: for weeks after his visit, students chose to write their own books during playtime and recess.”

Liz Leyden, St. Clement's School PTO, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.