The White Plains Examiner

Children’s Book Illustrator Shows GW Elementary Kids How it’s Done

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Book illustrator Robert Casilla tells fourth graders at White Plains George Washington Elementary School how images end up in books.
Book illustrator Robert Casilla tells fourth graders at White Plains George Washington Elementary School how images end up in books.

By Laura Fasano – A child’s introduction to literature is often through picture books. A youngster may decide if he or she enjoys reading based on the stories read in childhood and the experience of choosing a book is enhanced by the images that accompany the text.

That was why it was so exciting for fourth-graders at George Washington Elementary School in White Plains when illustrator Robert Casilla came to speak with them last Tuesday afternoon. The presentation “How do Illustrations End Up in Books?” was in honor of Casilla’s latest work, drawings that he made for the book “Remembering Day: Día De Los Muertos” written by Pat Mora.

Casilla used George Washington Elementary School fourth-grade student Selena Lozada-Pérez and her grandmother, Maria Aguirre, as the models for his illustrations. The school’s librarian, Linda Pandolfo, who is friends with Casilla, introduced the girl and her grandmother when he mentioned to Pandolfo that he was struggling to find the right models for the ideas he had.

The trio met at the White Plains Public Library to take preliminary photographs. Casilla directed Lozada-Pérez and Aguirre to create the poses he needed. The step was critical in Casilla’s creative process because he describes himself as a realistic artist and needs to see the subjects he is painting and drawing.

Casilla honored Lozada-Perez and her grandmother by presenting both of them with a framed print of one of his watercolor illustrations from the book.

The illustrator then spoke with students about what his job entails. He began with a power point presentation and displayed examples of his work. He explained that illustrating is a time-consuming process; “Remembering Day: Día De Los Muertos” took him nearly a year to complete.

Illustrating a children’s book begins with reading the manuscript and creating thumbnail sketches to use as guides for when he is posing the models, Casilla said. From there, he creates full-size sketches to be approved by the publisher. Once revisions are recommended, he completes the final paintings.

Casilla instructed the children that while you should “never be afraid to make a mistake” it is equally important to learn from your mistakes.

Casilla has worked with many reputable children’s authors such as David A. Adler, author of “Martin Luther King, Jr.: Free at Last,” Eileen Row, who wrote “Con Mi Hermano /With My Brother,” Natasha Wing, author of “Jalapeno Bagels,” and L. King Perez (“First Day in Grapes”).

Although he has illustrated about 35 books written by various authors, Casilla is working on writing his own children’s book, which will include his illustrations.

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