School and library visits

Make Literature and Imagination come alive at your school
or library with a visit by Author & Illustrator Scott E. Sutton

Children's book author Scott E. Sutton giving a presentation

In this language arts enrichment program,
Mr. Sutton will:

Excite your students about reading and writing

Entertain with his lively drawing presentation

Describe character development in stories

Demonstrate the eight key points to writing good stories

Programs available:

Language Arts Enrichment Program

Mr. Sutton demonstrates, step-by-step, how to create characters for stories and the eight steps to writing the story.

Writing and Illustrating Workshop

The students bring pencil and paper to draw along with Mr. Sutton, creating characters for their own stories.

The visit includes:

Up to 3 assemblies with up to 250 students per assembly.

All drawings done in the assemblies are signed and donated for school use.

Donation to the library of copies of Mr. Sutton's books.

All students are given the opportunity to order books.

Mr. Sutton will autograph each book purchased and deliver them the day of the event.

Watch a video clip of the author at one of his events:

Call or email today for more information
and to schedule a visit by Scott E. Sutton

949-697-8718

[email protected]

Read the testimonials!

***Here's what students, teachers and librarians have* to say about
Mr. Sutton's Author Visits to *their schools:***

"Everyone on our campus thoroughly enjoyed your visit. Students have joyfully carried your books to and from school each day this week. I even learned one young lady slept with her new book under her pillow. Thank you for your time and efforts on behalf of our students. This was our first experience having an author to campus. You made it one that all of our students will anticipate with enthusiasm in the future."
- Headmistress, Carden Arbor View School

"You know, I was so excited when I heard that you were coming because I never really met an author, especially a real author! I think it is very special to know how to use your imagination such as using a pickle to create a character."
- Student, Circle View Elementary

"Thank you so much for coming to Fairhaven. The students thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and all benefited from your positive thinking. Even at the close of school your drawings were still on everyone's chalkboards. The students wouldn't let the teachers erase them! I think you may have inspired some students to be writers or illustrators."
- Resource Teacher, Fairhaven School

"May I speak for every student and staff member who was thoroughly blessed by your wonderful presentation. 'I saw him! He was so great!' is echoed by all."
- Librarian, Estock Elementary

"Just wanted to say what a wonderful time we all had yesterday while Mr. Sutton was here. The children were very engaged. They didn't even know what 'peanut heads' were, but they were excited and anxious. Even the teachers were excited about using this material.
- Librarian, KISD

And, here's what the newspapers have to say:

"Mr. Author" "The sounds of children giggling and laughing echoed non-stop for almost an hour at Fryberger Elementary School Wednesday afternoon. Everything Scott E. Sutton did made them laugh. Aside from making them laugh with his illustrations, Sutton said he wanted to send a more serious message. 'The more you read, the better your imagination will get,' said Sutton."
- Westminster Progress

Author, illustrator teaches students basics of artistic expression

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 11 2008 06:49 AM

photo: Herald/SARAH MOORE KUSCHELL
Author and illustrator Scott E. Sutton fields a slew of questions from third-graders at Iduma Elementary School on Friday. Sutton talked to students about drawing and the components of storytelling.

photo: Herald/SARAH MOORE KUSCHELL
Iduma Elementary fourth-grader Chanse Smith-Muro listens to author and illustrator Scott E. Sutton during a special presentation on Friday.

By Iuliana Petre
Killeen Daily Herald

Scott E. Sutton, an author and illustrator of children's books, has been drawing since he was 2 years old.

Inspired by Dr. Seuss, Sutton, 55, has been professionally writing and illustrating children's books since 1985.

On Friday, the author of "Danger: Dinky Diplodocus," "The Family of Ree," "The Sheik of Shapes" and "How to Draw Stuff" visited with third- and fourth-graders at Iduma Elementary School in Killeen in an effort to inspire kids to read, write and try their hand at the arts.

"I want them to get the idea that writing and reading are fun," Sutton said in between drawing instruction sessions with students at the school's library. "They can draw, too. Too many people think they don't have a talent for drawing (and that's not true)," said Sutton, who every morning, like clockwork, sits down with his sketch book and draws something.

A self-proclaimed visual learner, Sutton said that he had difficulty in school when he was a student because work was either difficult or boring until he began illustrating his assignments. Regardless of whether he was writing for an English class or a history class, Sutton started to draw. He would submit his drawings with his assignment. Sutton's teachers realized that he had a good grasp on the subject because he was able to illustrate it. "I started doing well in school when I incorporated visual works into my book reports," Sutton said, adding that drawing is a good form of communication for kids and that there are different pathways to knowledge.

Sutton, who has authored and illustrated 16 of his own books and numerous other books, said that by visiting schools, he is trying to use visual methods to show students that they can write and illustrate, too. Although Sutton was never formally trained in the arts, much of what he learned was self-taught or he paired up with strong mentors who taught him basic and advanced drawing skills.

Sheila Donahue, Killeen Independent School District's director of fine arts, who did the legwork that brought Sutton into KISD schools, said that the "fine arts are a vehicle for engaging students by making connections to writing and reading."

KISD students benefited from Sutton's visit not only from his drawing instruction but also because Barnes & Noble Booksellers, in Harker Heights, donated copies of Sutton's books to each of the elementary school campuses, Donahue said. Other authors from whom KISD students will benefit include Keith Graves and Clare Dunkle, whose books were also distributed to elementary and middle school campuses. Graves will visit with KISD students at six elementary schools on Feb. 28.

All of the authors – Sutton, Graves, Dunkle – will participate in the "Take 190 West: Killeen Salutes the Arts" festival early next year. The partnership event between the city of Killeen and KISD will focus on authors and artists.