School Author Visits – Creatures & Characters

School Author Presentations and Workshops

As well as being the author/illustrator of 16 published books, Timothy Young has been a toy designer, illustrator, sculptor, puppet maker, and graphic designer. Highlights of his career include building animation models for Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, making Muppets for The Jim Henson Hour and creating toys such as the Chicken Fight pool game. His work has been seen on television, in major magazines and on toy shelves worldwide. He majored in illustration at Pratt Institute and has over 30 years experience as a professional artist. He would be excited to come to your school for assemblies, classroom, library, and art room presentations and workshops. He can tailor his visits for students from pre-school through high school, with readings, discussions, drawing demonstrations and interactive activities.

Tim has visited hundreds of schools and libraries. He’s appeared onstage at book festivals, conferences and was the keynote speaker at the Maryland Association of School Librarians Black-Eyed Susan Awards ceremony in 2013. As a picture book author/illustrator, most of his assemblies have been for elementary schools, but he has also done workshops and talks with middle and high school students about the process of putting together a picture book and about creative careers.

“Tim Young's contagious energy and love of storytelling enthralled everyone in the room the instant he entered our classroom. He had an easy time connecting with kids of all ages, dismantling obstacles, and fostering a real sense of participation. Mr. Young inspired students to embrace the power of imagination and explore their creativity through stimulating activities and interactive discussions. His inspiring ability was one of the most amazing things about his stay. He gave our students confidence and determination by sharing personal stories and insights into his writing career. After the event, a lot of students felt motivated to continue with their creative projects, be it writing, painting, or any other kind of expression. Tim Young's remarks struck a deep chord with our children, serving as a reminder that they are important and can change the world. Tim Young also made a genuine effort to connect with every student. He took the time to listen to students' questions and concerns, offering encouragement and support. His passion for storytelling, coupled with his ability to inspire and connect with students, made for an unforgettable experience. We wholeheartedly recommend Tim Young to any school or organization looking to enrich the lives of their students through the power of literature and creativity.”

“In October of 2019 I met author/illustrator Timothy Young at a conference I was presenting at. I brought his name to our PTA and we booked him to come to the school in spring 2020. Well, we all know what happened in spring 2020! Needless to say, we had to cancel that visit. Today, at long last, Timothy Young was at my school and gave 3 fantastic presentations to our students. Thank you to our PTA for funding his visit and thank you Timothy Young for sharing your books and MANY talents with our students today…it was worth the wait!”

“I can't say enough about the presentations done at our school by author/illustrator Timothy Young! They were so stellar! He answered every question from "how is a book made," to "what inspired your books" with honesty, but also with plenty of humor sprinkled in! He showed a technique to encourage students to be creative by starting with a scribble! He spoke about some other creative jobs he's held and opened up a world of jobs rooted in the arts and gave our students a glimpse into what kinds of jobs are out there for them! I received notes from parents telling me how their kids came home from school ecstatic about the assembly, wanting to purchase all of his books, and learn more about illustrating and sculpting! Mr. Young even gave the families the option to receive signed copies of his books! The experience was top notch, and I'd highly recommend him to anyone looking for a wonderful assembly for their school!!”

“Timothy Young's visit to our school has left smiles on our hearts forever. His presentations were engaging for all ages because of his wonderful ability to adapt them for any audience. With his kind heart and warm ways, he made everyone feel special and included. I loved how he moved around the room during his presentation so that the students in the back could get a "front row" seat to his drawing talents. Getting the teachers involved in his silly antics will always be treasured moments as well.”

“Our school invited author/illustrator, Tim Young, back for a second visit to provide student assemblies for our school-wide reading incentive program finale, and one evening presentation during our schoolʼs summer reading kick-off event. Students, teachers, and parents enjoyed the read-alouds of his books. Students, especially, were engaged in the interactive process of creating and illustrating characters--real and imagined.”

“It was a pleasure having Timothy Young visit our school. The students were thrilled to meet him and hear how he became an author and illustrator. Our teaching staff loved how he customized his presentations to meet the needs of each grade and it was wonderful to see his books come to life as he read them aloud. I especially enjoyed working with Mr. Young and found him to be flexible, friendly and engaging throughout the entire process of booking and presenting. A genuine pleasure!”

Elementary school assemblies are usually scheduled as:

• A 30 to 45 minute presentation with kindergarten and 1st-grade classes.

• A 45 min. to 1 hour presentation with the 2nd and 3rd graders.

• A 45 min. to 1 hour presentation with the 4th and 5th grade classes.

• Due to scheduling, some schools opt for 2 assemblies; K-2 and 3rd-5th grades.

Each assembly is geared towards the appropriate grade levels. An assembly usually consists of book readings, then a question and answer period which flows into a drawing demonstration. Each presentation is unique as they are student driven based on the questions they ask. Tim often works with students to create a brand new character, explaining the process of using your imagination to guide their drawings. He then does an interactive drawing lesson in which the students provide scribbles on a white board which Tim then uses to “discover” creatures and characters hidden in them. He also brings samples of toys and other things he’s designed throughout his career.

“Timothy Young's humor, story telling and drawings were loved by all. Students from grades 1-5 were completely engaged in his presentations. I especially loved his interactions with the kids when he was doing his scribble drawings. I cannot keep his books in the library now. I was told by many of our staff that this was the best author presentation they had ever experienced.”

“Our students enjoyed every activity that Mr. Young presented. But everyoneʼs favorite was scribbling on his pad and watching him turn their mess into a cute, and recognizable picture. It was a fun filled afternoon!”

“Everyone loved your presentation! So many teachers said how great you were; extremely engaging and funny! The students also loved the drawing portion.”

“Our school was fortunate to host Timothy Young this spring. He was a wonderful presenter to all grade levels. I got terrific feedback from students and staff how much they enjoyed hearing all about his books and his journey to becoming an author. Students loved when he showed them how to find pictures in their scribbles. It was a great visit that ended all too soon.”

“Never has a scribble looked so appealing and held so much meaning than it did for the students of Newbury School during your author visit. What a great lesson in creativity and perseverance you communicated to the students when you showed them how to transform a scribble into a drawing. I am so thrilled to tell you that my desk is filled with happy scribble drawings. Lastly, your patience and professionalism in answering all of the students’ questions really resonated with the teachers! It is easy to tell that you enjoy being around and inspiring children to be creative thinkers. Can we just put in that you are a really cool guy too?

“The students from kindergarten all the way through 5th grade had such a great time. Timothy was able to keep the students, engaged, interested and entertained all at the same time. His presentations are perfectly tailored to the various grade levels. His artistry was also quite impressive to both students and staff. We thoroughly enjoyed his visit and all of the beautiful sketches he gifted the library after his presentations. Everyone at Center Street School definitely knows the difference between a puffin and penguin now!”

Contact us for prices. We try to keep our costs within a school’s budget. Discounts are available for multiple school visits in the same area over consecutive days.

All the school needs to provide is an LCD projector and screen or a smart board. (If a school does not have one, a program can still be presented). We’re always happy to tailor a program to fit your students and schedule.

If you don’t have a local bookseller to work with we can handle book sales. A PDF pre-order form, with specific details about the visit, is provided. It can be emailed or printed and sent home with the students. There is no minimum book order requirement. Tim signs the books ahead of time and brings them with him. He always draws a picture in each signed book. Tim is available throughout the year and can even make room in his schedule on short notice. Email us for details.

Tim also does in-class workshops, after school programs, evening literacy night presentations as well as public library programs and special book events. He has presented at librarian and bookseller conferences and many other venues.

He has covered topics including:

• Writing and Illustrating Books

• Creating Unique Creatures and Characters

• Storyboarding

• Creative Careers

• The History of Children’s Book Illustration

Please contact us, we’d be happy to create a program that suites your particular needs.