Submitted by Gene Barretta, November 2022

ABOUT ME

I have moved 27 times - lived in six states - graduated NYU film school - interned at MTV - made industrial training videos - videotaped surgery - played in a rock band - spent a day with Mr. Rogers - spent an evening with Jim Henson - drew storyboards for Muppets From Space - performed some background Muppets - designed some Muppet characters - animated five short films for Sesame Street - and spent an afternoon inside Abbey Road Studios . . . all in preparation for a career as a children’s book author and illustrator. At least that’s what I like to tell myself. I have stopped moving around for the time being and live outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with my son and two cats.

ABOUT MY BOOKS

I write and illustrate most of my books, although I also write for other illustrators and illustrate for other authors. Several of my books are included in school curriculum, and some translated into Spanish, Chinese, and Braille. I am also grateful to have won some awards and honors along the way, including a recent nomination for an NAACP Image Award. One of my biggest honors has been to speak about my work on stage at the 92nd Street Y in New York.

My titles include: “Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin,” “Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones,” “The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver,” “Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo Da Vinci,” Lincoln & Kennedy: A Pair to Compare,” “The Bat Can Bat: A Book of True Homonyms,” “Muhammad Ali: A Champion is Born,” “Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives,” “The Bass Plays the Bass and Other Homographs,” and my most recent release, “Starring Steven Spielberg: The Making of a Young Filmmaker.”

Visit my website to see much more: www.genebarretta.com

ABOUT MY SCHOOL PROGRAMS

My school program introduces children to the step-by-step process of illustrating children’s books, using colorful, light-hearted images as examples. Students will also take part in a fun lesson about perseverance as I recount the many revisions it took to finish a book that began my 20-year career as an author. The final section of the program is spent reading and discussing any one of my titles.  Questions are encouraged throughout the program.

BOOK A VIRTUAL PROGRAM FOR YOUR STUDENTS

I would love to hear from you to plan a virtual visit and meet your students! Connexion to Digital Human Library today and send me a request for your program. I offer three FREE programs a year so book early!