It's a Wrap

Jay Piscopo's week-long tour of Pennsylvania libraries wrapped up today at Radnor and Malvern Public Libraries. Jay lives in Portland, Maine and is the creator of The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli all ages graphic novel.

He spent the week in Pennsylvania presenting his interactive Draw on Your Creativity drawing workshop for kids. Today, long time friend Chris White joined him in Radnor. Chris was an artistic inspiration to Jay when they were in school together and they had not seen each other for 25 years.

Pennsylvania is a diverse, beautiful state with fantastic libraries all with rapidly expanding graphic novel sections. Jay is proud to have Capt'n Eli on the shelves of so many libraries and to have met so many creative and energetic librarians who are constantly finding new ways to engage the creativity and curiosity of kids. Be creative @ your library -- and -- stand by for adventure!

Be sure to check out the Philadelphia Inquirer tomorrow for a photo essay of Jay's visit to Malvern Public Library.

Check out photos from the week at this link.

Jay Piscopo in Philadelphia

Click HERE to read Jay Piscopo's blog about his day in Philadelphia at the Joseph E. Coleman library.

Be Creative with Jay Piscopo in Pennsylvania

The second day of Jay Piscopo's Pennsylvania library tour was a fantastic mix of scenery and super powered comics drawing with kids around the state: from the peaceful farmland surrounding Atglen Public Library, to the busy streets of historic West Chester, to an evening with young graphic novel fans at Tredyffrin Public Library. A couple of additional stops included interviews for the Community Courier and WCHE radio with host Michele Paiva. Check out video clips from these interviews HERE and HERE.

This summer, the theme is "Be Creative @ Your Library" and Jay Piscopo is helping kids do just that with his interactive Draw on Your Creativity workshop. Check out PHOTOS from this week-long library tour and see the full schedule HERE.

Jay Piscopo is the author / illustrator of The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli all-ages graphic novel series. Stand by for adventure!

Jay Piscopo on the Road in Pennsylvania

The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli author / illustrator, Jay Piscopo, is on the road in Pennsylvania touring libraries with his interactive Draw on Your Creativity workshop for kids. Check out photos and video from day 1 at these links and keep checking for new pictures and updates all week.

Fantastic visits so far to Collingdale Public Library, Henrietta Hankin Library, and Easttown Library connecting with fans of Capt'n Eli and introducing this all ages graphic novel series to new fans.

Pennsylvania is a beautiful state and Jay is gearing up for a full day today with visits to Atglen Public Library, West Chester, Public Library, and Tredyffrin Public Library and a radio interview by Michelle Paiva at WCHE.

Stand by for adventure in Pennsylvania and be creative at your library!

Video Clip: Jay Piscopo Drawing Workshop

Jay Piscopo is the author / illustrator of the all ages graphic novel series, The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli. In his interactive drawing workshop he teaches students about perception and shows how anyone can learn to draw using simple geometric shapes. This video clip is from Jay Piscopo's recent visit to the William Fogg Library in Eliot, Maine.

Stand by for Adventure with Jay Piscopo in Pennsylvania

As part of this year’s summer reading program theme “Be Creative @ Your Library,” Maine comic book artist Jay Piscopo will present his “Draw on Your Creativity” drawing workshop at select Pennsylvania libraries this week(see schedule below). Attendees interested in any of Piscopo’s nine workshops should contact participating libraries for full details, recommended ages, and registration information.

Piscopo is the author and illustrator of The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli all-ages graphic novel series. In this interactive workshop, he invites kids to try their hand at cartoon art and demonstrates how anyone can learn to draw and create comics. Using simple geometric shapes, he teaches how to build anatomy and perspective to create art that tells a story. Read full press release HERE.

Workshop Schedule:
July 6
10:00am -- Collingdale Public Library, Collingdale
2:00pm -- Henrietta Hankin Library, Chester Springs
7:00pm -- Easttown Library, Berwyn

July 7
10:00am -- Atglen Public Library, Atglen
2:00pm – West Chester Public Library, West Chester
7:30pm – Tredyffrin Public Library, Strafford

July 8
2:00pm – Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library, Philadelphia

July 9
11:00am – Radnor Township Memorial Library, Wayne
7:00pm – Malvern Public Library, Malvern

Booklist Review of The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli - Volume 2

Click HERE to read review on line.

A brief recap of the events in the first volume leads directly into the action as young Eli and Commander X arrive in the undersea city of Aquaria after the Commander rescues the boy from a time vortex. Eli learns about the history of the undersea cities (including Atlantis) just as the Hydrons that assailed him and his companions in the time vortex attack Aquaria. Eli works to defend Aquaria, even as Commander X is captured by the attackers. The past plays a strong role in what occurs in the present, familial loyalties and betrayals cause repercussions throughout the undersea world, and Eli learns that his own jaunt 5,000 years into the past has many consequences. While the first graphic novel spent a lot of time introducing characters and seemed overly wordy, this volume is an action-packed, fast-paced story full of derring-do. Piscopo again blends 3D-style art with traditional cartooning and updates old-fashioned adventure storytelling for today’s young readers.

— Kat Kan

The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli
v.2: The Mystery of the Sargasso Sea
Piscopo, Jay (author). Illustrated by Jay Piscopo.
Nov. 2008. 112p. Nemo, paperback, $9.99 (9780981713212). Grades 3-5. 741.5. REVIEW. First published June 16, 2009 (Booklist Online).

Ordering information for The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli all ages graphic novel series at this link.