HAMILTON TOWNSHIP - Children's author Jarrett J. Krosoczka used an active imagination and perseverance to turn stories he wrote in elementary school into a successful career and a popular graphic novel series.
Krosoczka spoke to the fourth- and fifth-grade classes Monday at the George L. Hess Education Complex to encourage children to write and draw using their imagination and creativity. Krosoczka, who writes and illustrates his books, showed students stories, which featured kitchen appliances, that he wrote and drew as an elementary school student.
"I tell the kids to write for the love of coming up with stories. I try to show them what I did as a child and show them it doesn't have to be great," he said. "The main thing is they use their imagination. Writing is using your imagination on paper."
The 34-year-old now writes the "Lunch Lady" series, a collection of graphic novels focused on the heroic exploits of school cafeteria workers. Krosoczka said he came up with the idea for the books by visiting his old elementary school in Worcester, Mass., and meeting his old lunch lady.
"She told me about her grandkids," he said. "I never thought lunch ladies exist beyond school walls."
The North Hampton, Mass., resident said that moment gave him the inspiration to think about what life could be like for cafeteria workers outside the school. He showed the students the process of drawing the pictures and writing the words to effectively tell the stories.
"Words and pictures are teammates," he said. "They work to tell the story together. The pictures and words tell different aspects of the story."
The author also told students how difficult it can be to get work published.
"I took my first book to 10 publishers, and they all said no. Then I sent it to my 11th. What do you think they said? They said no, too," he said.
But eventually he found a publisher, and it all paid off, he said.
"Because I never gave up and because I kept writing stories, a book with my words on it and pictures were sent to stores and libraries across the country," he said.
Janet Yunghans, Hess librarian for fourth- and fifth-grade students, said the school is starting a program to encourage students to write their own books. The school's library will have a special section for student-written books. Yunghans expects 25 to 30 books will be written by students this year.
The students work on writing with their language arts teachers, and Yunghans said many children expressed interest in writing comics or graphic novels. The school has a visiting author every year, and this time they wanted a writer/illustrator to discuss juggling both aspects of storytelling.
"I hope they learned about how to draw, having persistence and be inspired by him to continue to work," Yunghans said. "The best way to inspire kids to read is to have an author come and speak."
Krosoczka will speak to the school's second- and third-grade classes today.
The school prepared for the visit, and staff wore special lunch-lady aprons, Yunghans said. The school also held a special event to recognize its 13 lunch ladies that afternoon, she said.
Principal Jennifer Baldwin said the school raised the money for Krosoczka's visit through its book sale in November, during which more than one-third of the school's 1,500 students purchased a "Lunch Lady" book.
The school encourages its language arts teachers to use other topics, such as art, to get the students interested in writing and reading, Baldwin said.
"I want them to see how the skills are connected," she said.
Luke Vaks, 9, said he wants to be an illustrator and draws whenever he can. After listening to Krosoczka, the fourth-grader said he will continue to draw and improve on his work.
"It takes a lot of effort," he said.
Fifth-grader Kazminah Turner drew a picture of a mash potato smash blaster that shoots enemies before they can attack in a contest sponsored by the school for Krosoczka's visit.
The 11-year-old wants to be a writer and was inspired by what Krosoczka said.
"It takes a lot of skill to draw and write and express your feelings and emotions. When he writes a book, there's a lot of effort to express what they're feeling in every picture," she said. "You can do a lot of things and must believe in yourself."
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