School Visits with Author-Illustrator, Bonnie Bright

Available presentations are listed below. Please contact me to arrange a visit.

SCBWI PAL Member

Book cover for the book, Cellphoneitis; a story about a boy obsessed with his phone.
Owen is staring at his phone screen and ignoring his dog.
Owen is so obsessed with his phone that he is not watching the movie with his friends.
Cellphoneitis: A lighthearted children's story abo ....
Kennedy, Michelle S and Bright, Bonnie

Cellphoneitis

This presentation begins with a PowerPoint presentation, loaded with good visuals, detailing out the process of illustrating a book. Next, I engage with the students as I read this humorous, rhyming story aloud. After the story, we go over the discussion topics included at the back back of the book. This allows the students talk about fun alternatives to screen time. Workbook pages are included with the presentation.

Book Description

When Owen gets a cellphone for his birthday, he excitedly texts his friends! But soon, his new phone starts causing isolation and unintended consequences.

It becomes obvious to everyone around him:

Owen’s got a bad case of Cellphoneitis!

Written for children ages 4-8, this story contains a valuable lesson delivered through light-hearted rhyme and a touch of humor.

Supply List:

  • Crayons

  • Pencils and Erasers

  • Glue

  • Scissors

Pricing:

A free book will be donated to your school library with every 25 books sold.

Fee for presenting to one classroom is $150.00. Presenting to additional groups/classrooms is $50.00 per added class.

Pre-K~1st visiting artist Children’s Book Presentation w/  Art Project

Visits typically take place in a classroom or library setting. I start with a short talk about what I do as an author/illustrator, while sharing sketches and examples of the finished product. I explain how I have two ways of creating an illustration (digital and hand-painted), but that they always begin with a pencil sketch. Below is a rough outline of what to expect…

Brief Discussion About How I Became An Illustrator

As a child I always knew I wanted to illustrate children’s books. I used to make very tiny books that I illustrated in pencil.

When I was a little older, my mom allowed me to paint a mural on my bedroom wall (a unicorn).

I decided to study art in college.  I was also a very good volleyball player, so I played volleyball and studied Fine Art at UC Santa Barbara. While I was in college, two professors asked me to illustrate their physics books (barely paid me and kept the illustrations).

I transferred to Cal State University of Long Beach to study illustration.

Story Time: We read The Tangle Tower together. Children love to repeat the refrain together. “Ouch! Stop it! That hurts my head. Can’t we just brush it tomorrow instead?”

Class Project With The Tangle Tower:

I guide the class through face drawing and then we work on creating our tangle towers, gluing yarn, twigs, leaves, buttons, twist ties, hair clips or anything else the children bring in to glue to their tangle. Once completed, projects will need to lay flat to dry. At least one half hour is needed for each class, plus 5 minutes clean-up in-between.

Supply List:

  • Pre-print enough coloring page templates for the whole class.

  • Crayons

  • Pencils and Erasers

  • Spools of Yarn (any color to create hair)

  • Scissors

  • Glue

  • A collection of leaves, twigs, buttons, hair clips and small random objects to glue into the tangle.

  • White board or touch screen for me to draw the steps.

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Class Project With Casey’s Compost:

I supply a print out of a flower vase and a check list in the form of a coloring page. I supply cutouts of seeds, sprouts and leaves, suns and water drops. After the craft, students will plant to beans in soil to take home or to grow in their classroom in a sunny window. Craft projects will need to lay flat to dry. At least one half hour is needed for each class, plus 5 minutes clean-up in-between.

Supply List:

  • Crayons

  • Pencils and Erasers

  • Paper cups with potting soil

  • Beans or other easy-to-grow seeds

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Affordable Pricing for School Visits:

A free book will be donated to your school library with every 25 books sold.

Copies of the book can be purchased directly from me. Paperback $12.00 Hardback $15.00.

New Release: Tangle Tower card games are now available.  School Pricing $8.00 ea.

Fee for presenting to one classroom is $100.00. Presenting to additional groups/classrooms is $50.00 per added class. Each book sold earns the school $6 off my visit.

Illustration from a children's book showing a classroom with a child whose large, curly hair is blocking the view of the teacher and classmates. On the opposite page, a child is in a bathtub with soap suds and water, and their hair is extending upward creatively. Text accompanies both images, describing scenarios related to the illustrations.
A colorful illustrated book cover titled 'The Tangle Tower', featuring a girl with large brown eyes and big curly brown hair decorated with various children's toys and flowers, set against a blue sky background, written and illustrated by Bonnie Bright and Jessica Elin.
A kindergarten classroom with a teacher standing at the front holding a drawing while children sit on the floor listening attentively. The classroom walls are decorated with colorful educational materials and charts. Children are seated on a multicolored rug.
Illustration of a boy holding a recycling sign with a smiling bird at a table with compost and recycling bins. The boy is wearing an orange shirt and yellow gloves. The background features a sign with recycling symbols and a logo for humorous story and helpful composting tips.
Illustrated page from a children's book showing a young soccer player in a yellow uniform lying on the grass with eyes wide open and mouth slightly ajar. A soccer ball is tangled in their curly hair. Text on the page reads, "OUCH! Stop it! That hurts my head. Can’t we just brush it tomorrow instead?"

Click image to play animation.

Flip Book Animation

Grades 4 & 5

Introduction

Studied Fine Art and Animation in College.

After college, I was not sure how to begin my career, so I worked at a bakery, a clothing store and an art gallery.  I also taught aerobics to help make ends meet.  While working in the gallery, a client came in and asked about a piece of artwork on display in the back corner.  When the client found out it was mine, he asked me if I would like to be an educational computer game artist and I jumped at the chance. We’re talking 320 x 200 and 640 x 48 blocky pixel art!

I had the unique opportunity to learn about the basics of animation on the job.

That launched a 20+ year computer game artist career!  I worked for seven different companies and helped launch dozens of game titles.

Q & A

Students will have the opportunity to ask me about my career.

Flip Book Animation Project:

Students will learn the basics of squash and stretch, hesitation and ease as we create a bouncing ball animation. If time permits, students may begin an animation of their choice on the back or other side of their flip book simply by relocating the black clip.

Supply List

  • Each child will need a full stack of white index cards held together with a large, black metal clip.

  • Pencils and Erasers

  • White board or touch screen for me to draw the steps.

  • It’s helpful to be able to show the animation page from my web site: https://www.brightillustrations.com/animation

Fee for presenting to one classroom is $150.00. Presenting to additional groups/classrooms is $50.00 per added class.

Book-making

Grades 4-5

When I was between game jobs, in 1999, I was asked to illustrate a board book called I Love You All the Time.  That book sold 100,000 copies!

Over the years, I have illustrated more than 20 books for clients, and some for myself. I am still illustrating books for a living today.

Project can take up to 3 visits:

  • Use cardboard to create the front cover, back cover and spine.

  • Glue front and back cardboard pieces to a fabric swatch, leaving room for the spine, then glue and fold the edges.

  • Glue paper to the inside of the cover to create a polished look.

  • Poke holes in the spine.

  • Fold the four pre-cut book pages in half and poke matching holes in the center (later, we will sew the pages to the spine)

  • Illustrate books from sketch-work to final.

  • Sew pages to the spine and glue to the cover.

Supply List Per Student:

  • Pre-cut smooth cardboard (similar to the back of a paper pad) 2 pieces @ 6” x 6” and 1 piece @ 1/4” x 6”.

  • Fabric

  • Pre-cut swaths of fabric at 14” x 7.5”

  • 4 sheets of paper at 6” x 12”.

Pricing:

$150 per day.  This project usually takes five 1 hour visits to complete.

White background with no visible objects or elements.
Illustration of a cartoon bear with a cheerful expression and three gray diamond shapes in the background.
Mural of sunflowers on building wall

visiting artist Mural Project

I design and layout murals with empty spaces planned in for the students. It typically takes me about a week to get the mural ready.  It generates excitement for the students to see me working on the mural.  Under my guidance, one class at a time can come work with me on the mural and add their special touch.  For instance, I can paint a bunch of sunflower stalks, and each student can paint their own flower.  Or I can create an indoor mural designed to have students tape up a paper flower or a butterfly.  Those projects can go home with the students at the end of the year.

Supply List:

  • Donated acrylic paint in various colors.

  • Paint brushes for students.

  • Painting clothes or smocks for each student.

  • Clean wall space.

Pricing:

My hourly rate for a school Mural is $30 per hour.

Request a School Visit from an author/illustrator

Cartoon character walking with an umbrella under rain
A girl holding a potted plant with a purple flower, surrounded by open books, some with illustrations of insects like ladybugs, ants, and a bee; paper and books are depicted as part of a whimsical garden scene.

Testimonials

Child's drawing of a house with pink roof, yellow sun, and two children outside, one holding a watering can, with handwritten thank you note.
Child's drawing of a girl with long black hair, pink dress, holding a yellow book, against a blue sky background with stars. Speech bubble says 'I Love this book'.
A handwritten note and a child's drawing. The drawing features a smiling character with big eyes, a wide grin, and hair, making a thumbs-up gesture. The note begins with 'Dear Ms. Bright' and discusses learning about a book. Large letters at the bott
Colorful children's drawing depicting a person in a blue shirt surrounded by multiple figures, trees, and structures, with handwritten text underneath.
A child's drawing of a girl with rainbow-colored hair, wearing a rainbow-striped dress, sitting on a yellow patch and smiling. She has a speech bubble saying, "I wish I am an awesome book." The background shows a blue sky, a yellow sun, and pink clou
Child's colorful drawing of people, some sitting and some standing, with a rainbow-colored background. There is a speech bubble that says 'Thank you.'
Child's drawing of a smiling person in a red shirt and pink skirt holding hands with four children, with a large brown creature, possibly a beaver or similar animal, in the background.
Child's drawing depicting a girl with long blonde hair and a pink smile, standing outdoors under a blue sky with birds flying, a yellow sun, and a large speech bubble with the word 'READ!' written inside.
A child's drawing of a classroom scene with a yellow sun in the sky, mountains in the background, a teacher, and four students sitting at desks, accompanied by a handwritten letter to a teacher.
Children standing under a rainbow with the words "I love Bunny Bunny" written on it, sunlight in the sky, and a sailboat.
A child's drawing featuring five people seated on the ground, a person with blonde hair holding a book, and a colorful background with pieces of furniture and a green and blue shape, beneath a handwritten note.
A child's drawing of three people. The person on the left is holding a book, with curly hair and a pink shirt. The other two people are sitting, one with brown hair and a green dress, the other with orange hair and a blue top, both smiling.
A hand-drawn illustration of a book cover titled 'The Tangle Tower' with a drawing of a girl’s head at the bottom and a small black creature to her left. Next to the book, there is a rough sketch of a mirror showing the girl with curly hair.
Child's drawing of a person outdoors in a green field under a blue sky with a yellow sun, with handwritten letter below.
Child's drawing of a classroom with books, shelves, and thank you notes, dated December 3, 2018, with handwritten letter to Ms. Bright.
Colorful children's drawing showing a girl with curly hair, surrounded by a butterfly, a flower, and a squirrel. The drawing is within a letter addressed to 'Ms. Bright'.
Children's drawing of a woman with blonde hair, a child with a crown, and presents. Handwritten letter below the drawing.

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