Award-winning children’s author/illustrator David Shannon buzzed into El Segundo’s Richmond Street School on April 17 appropriately costumed as “king bee” to narrate his book “Bizzy Mizz Lizzie” to a captivated young audience who know his books well. The book is about a young, busy bee that learns to take time to stop and smell the roses!

“We were extremely fortunate to be able to host THE beloved children's author, David Shannon,” said Richmond Street School Principal Alice Lee. “When we found out which guest author Scholastic was bringing to our school, we were elated! Many of our teachers in the primary grades use Mr. Shannon’s books to conduct author studies in their language arts instruction. His presentation was engaging and we truly had a celebrity in our midst.”

Shannon engaged with the students with a charming and relaxed style, infused with a tad of mischief and playfulness. He showed the students how to draw, David, his most popular and mischievous character. The students then had the opportunity to get their books by Shannon autographed. The auditorium was decorated with the students’ artwork inspired by the author and theme “David Goes to Hawaii,” which Shannon took some time to admire. He encouraged students to keep drawing and writing, or doing other activities they like—and to keep practicing. He also let the students in on a little secret, “some of my best ideas come when I’m doing nothing!”

Shannon liked to draw as soon as he could hold a crayon, and he wrote and illustrated his first book at age five. He graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he majored in illustration. He began his career in New York City doing editorial illustration. Shannon’s work has appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including Time, Newsweek, and Rolling Stone. After illustrating several books by other authors, Shannon was encouraged to write his own stories. His first book was How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball, which was named a New York Times best-illustrated book in 1994. In 1999, the semi-autobiographical story, No, David!, received a Caldecott Honor. Shannon has written and/or illustrated more than 35 books for children. He lives in Los Angeles with is wife and daughter.

“Richmond Street School would like to thank Scholastic for this wonderful opportunity,” said Lee. “We are also extremely thankful for our PTA Book Fair committee for helping our school receive recognition as a Scholastic Signature Book Fair School.” School and parent volunteers work with Scholastic Book Fair representatives to organize annual weeklong events at the school that give families access to affordable, popular books to help foster a lifelong love of reading.

Click here to view the entire presentation courtesy of El Segundo TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WPk9aOiaQw