IRL @ Cartoon Art Museum SF

 

Yup, I will be at the famed "Cartoon Art Museum" this Sunday. If you're around the city please come say hello. I'll be there April 2nd from 1-3pm talking about my work and my new art book "Art of Rob". This is a cool museum where you can see original art from folks who've worked in illustration, animation, cartooning, and pop culture. I've been there before and its a really cool place to check out or hang!

LINK to their site for more info

Dig this? Check out this post about my visit to Prospect Sierra at Pegasus Books in Berkeley.

College lecture - Modesto Jr College

 

Sup with it fam! On March 29th of this year I will be doing a presentation for college students and faculty at Modesto Jr College! I'm going to be talking about my career, art, kids books, publishing, and literacy! I've visited Modesto and the jr college three times in the past. First for the Latino Comics Expo founded by Ricardo Padilla and Javier Hernandez-the first ever comics con dedicated to Latino Comics writers and illustrators. Second, I visited the main branch of the Modesto Public Library to read to families, children, and caregivers for their story time. Third, I visited for the "Latinx Comics and Arts Fest" founded by Dr. Theresa Rojas , a professor from MJC. 

All of these were really great events or experiences filled with families, community, incredible creators, art, and lots of books and comics. If you're a student at the college or know someone who is please invite them to attend. 

MORE INFO

If you're looking for something to do with the entire family, check out the Latinx Comics and Arts Fest happening on March 17-18th.

Dig this? Check out this interview I did with my bro Farbeon on Feel Good Radio. Also, this is a recent school visit for Prospect Sierra in Berkeley California.

African American Read In week- Tacoma Public Library

This past week myself, Tyrah Majors, Leonard Williams, and Parable Tacoma had a panel discussion about our work, diversity and books, and we read a few exerpts from our stories. You can visit Tacoma Public Library online here. BIG shout out to Mejin Turner, Kelsey King, and Kim Mose who are the librarians who invited us to speak!! I met these folks last summer at the Seattle Urban Book Expo.

Here's the original flyer:

Dig this? Here's a video from a literacy presentation I did with Sacramento's Sol Collective

 

Tacoma African American Read In - Pierce County Library

 Yo, this coming Black History Month I will be speaking at the "African American Read In" for the Pierce County public library in Tacoma Washington. You can join virtually from anywhere in the world. I will be speaking with two Washington based authors and the owners of the shop "Parable Tacoma". I met some of the librarians organizing this event at the Seattle Urban Book Expo and I'm juiced to be a part of this.

Register for the event HERE

Dig this? Check out this talk I gave for the SOL Collective about developing a love of reading

 

Speaking w/ Prospect Sierra @ Pegasus Books

 

Yo, had a chance to speak and read to a bunch of families of the Prospect Sierra School in Berkeley California at Pegasus Books in support of a fundraiser for the school. This was only the second time I've presented about my work in relation to my art book "Art of Rob" and it was well received. Lots of young ones copped the book and I got to do some doodles in their books. 

Some of the topics we discussed in this presentation were:

• The power of representation in kid lit and media
• Literacy and the path to reading for fun
• My art, career timeline, family, and art inspiration
• Diverse Books, self publishing, and the publishing world
• Social justice movements, activism, and art

Pegasus books is an old bookstore based in Berkeley and Oakland. The Solano store has a huge selection of diverse kids books and I'm always like a kid in a candy store when I'm there. Prospect Sierra is an independent or private school in El Cerrito California. I have been doing school visits as a storyteller since 2012 and I worked as an arts teacher from 2002-2010. I don't miss being a teacher, but I do love talking to young people!

Dig this? I've been presenting to, reading to, and speaking with young people in presentations like these for more than a decade. Check out some photos from a public school reading at Bella Vista in Oakland, or Woodland Elementary in Oakland. 

Also, here's is a link to an interview I did for Rightnowish on KQED.

Photos by Prospect Sierra

Rightnowish! - Podcast interview

 

Yooo,  I'm a guest on "Rightnowish" a podcast/ radio show with Pendarvis Harshaw on KQED!! Been listening since it came out in 2019 and have loved listening to interviews with mc/writer Rocky Rivera, MC/Historian Dregs One, Futbolista/Medicine woman Dania Cabello, Muralist Timothy B, Artist/Curator Ashara Ekundayo, Designer/publisher Mike Nicholls, Cartoonist Breena Nuñez,  muralist Josue Rojas and his Mama, and series pieces like this summer's "Searching for a Kiki" with Corey Antonio Rose who lovingly shares Queer Black history.

Rightnowish seeks out a broad array of folks in music, film, activism, organizing, performing and visual arts. He gets in depth with each guest and topic in a very short segment that is so sincere, clear, and inspiring. Not since "Home Turf" , "Distortion to Static", or "Hard Knock Radio" have I heard such a wealth of folks who are talented but underrated by mainstream media be highlighted. That's actually how I found Pen, through his doc on Mike "Dream" Francisco.

But, what's even better is that the team of host/journalist Pendarvis Harshaw with producer Marisol Medina Cadena and editor Jessica Placzeck make the process and final product PROFESSIONAL. When you listen you know who the episode is about. And you can hear it clear and concisely. Not all podcasts do that! And when I think about how they condensed our hour long convo to this short but meaningful piece; I'm awed. Subscribe to this show, share it, donate to KQED, and follow the team!

LISTEN TO MY EPISODE: HERE

If you'd like to hear another interview or see some press I've gotten please visit this page

School visit at Bella Vista in Oakland

 

Two weeks ago I read at a local Oakland school called Bella Vista, and here are some photos from the reading which had over 100 kids, parents and teachers. Photo credit.

This was a tough one because the crowd was big so I had a mic and walked around with a student to show the kids the pages of the book in between reading. Since 2012 I've done 1-10 school, library, or event readings with my books. Sometimes by myself and sometimes with an author.

I've spoken to pre school, elementary, high school, and college students. If you'd like me to come speak to your students give me a holler. 

Dig this? Check out this visit to Columbus Ohio where I tabled at SOL Con and read to a local school. LINK

Speaking w/ Sol Collective

 Today I'll be speaking with Sol Collective and their community talking about literacy!!! The jist of the presentation is : To develop a love of reading takes teamwork and ganas (desire). The absolutely awesome stories you seek are out there, you just have to work together to find and share them. In this short workshop, Robert will share his experience going from a nonreader to a lover of books and stories.

Hosted by: Me! Robert Liu-Trujillo, father, husband, artist, and author

LINK: Eventbrite Link

video link

Dig this? Check out these photos from a visit I did for a school called Prospect Sierra

Dia De Niño

 

What up fam, I will be reading and speaking / reading at the "Dia del Niño" bilingual book festival. Please go to their website here: https://www.ninosbookfest.com/ and follow them so you can catch 1 of the 3 days with many creators such as Pat Mora, Nury Castillo Crawford, Juana Martinez -Neal, Patty Rodriguez, and more.

There will be readings, demo's, give aways, and more.

Reading! - NHCC

 

Fam, I will be presenting at the 2021 @NHCCNM bilingual book festival this week on Thursday on April 15th, 2021. I'll be reading in Spanish and English so tune in w/ your bilingual learners. Check out the schedule and more here nhccbookfest.com

Reading This Sunday-Afro Latinx Festival

 

This coming Sunday I'll be speaking with Gabriela from the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach about kids books. This is a story time for the little ones so please invite them and families to attend, listen, and ask questions. More information on how to register  HERE

School Visit at Cesar Chavez Elementary- Davis CA

 I wish I could go back to reading at schools! Hopefully again in the future. I was invited by author and friend Justine Villanueva (Jack & Agyu) to come read at this school. I read to six classes and as always it was lots of fun. I handed out book plates to all the students and then they asked me for my signature. They had lots of funny questions.  

Dig this? Check out this reading at Woodland Elementary in Oakland

Ohio School Visit + Sol Con- Photos

Recently I went out to Columbus Ohio to attend the SOL Con at Ohio State University and to read to some children at Weinland Park Elementary school out there. Here are some photos from my trip. The photo above is from an apartment area I saw. I really dug the architecture. All in all, it was a great experience. Professor Katlin Marisol Sweeney along with Prof Frederick Luis Aldama organized so much of SOL CON and it was great to meet them. All the exhibitors and folks I met were super cool. I took most of the photos but a few are from the SOL Con.

The day of the con 

One of the huge buildings 

I did a school visit and reading while I was there. This is the school library at Weinland Elementary before the children arrived. I had a lot of fun meeting the principal Dr. Robinson, all the school staff and Dionne Custer from the Wexner Center for the Arts which I also visited while there. It was really great to meet the students, read them my book, show them artwork, answer their questions, and to talk to them about art and stories. The school purchased copies of my book Furqan's First Flat Top for many of the classrooms there.

Walking around the city from my hotel to leaving. Its always fun to walk around a city. I wish I'd had the time to see more but my trip was super short.

After visiting the Wexner Center for the Arts I created some video tutorials for them the following year during the start of the pandemic.Watch those HERE.

Entrance

Prof Aldama & Jaime Hernandez

Dig this? Check out my visit to the Latino Comics Expo in Modesto California, my reading at Woodland Elementary in Oakland, or this visit to Cesar Chavez Elementary in Davis, CA.

ACLU 100 + Panel

Happy to say that I will be speaking on a panel (1-2pm) this Sunday with Innosanto Nagara,  Gregory Sale, and Sabiha Basrai. The panel will be moderated by Gigi Harney. We will be talking about arts and activism. BUT, thats not the only thing happening. You can hear bands play, get books and art, dance, see local artisans, live art, and hear some more great speakers on both Saturday and Sunday.

This is the Facebook event page and this is the ACLU 100 site which is part of a nationwide event celebrating the work of the ACLU and talking about mass incarceration, Immigrant and voting rights, activism, and more.  Check out the other cities they will be posted up in 

Not familiar with the American Civil Liberties Union? Go check out some of the videos they have up on Youtube regarding LGBTQ, Activist, Muslim,  and Immigrants rights.

Sausal Creek 8 - Photo of Me and Melissa reading

Here are two photos of me and author Melissa Reyes reading to some children in South Sacramento's "Meadow View Elementary" , photo by Nicole Martinez. 

To the date, we have read separately and together in many different settings and the book has reached a lot of people. 

Melissa Reyes is a former elementary teacher and decided to write the book when she could not find a picture book about a historic geological landmark in the Bay Area. The children had tons of questions and responses at this reading and it was a blast to visit Maestra Martinez' class! Check out the welcome sign they made!

You can purchase the book here "I Am Sausal Creek"

One of a kind like me 12 - Me and Laurin reading

This is a shot and throwback to me and author Laurin Mayeno reading "One of a kind, like me" to a school audience in Oakland. I believe it was taken by Innosanto Nagara. If you still haven't gotten the book you can get it HERE.

And here is a recent review of the book by Neely's news

Booklandia- Bay Area Book Festival

Yo, I will be speaking on a panel about bilingual books with some local authors. Two of which are very good friends! Maya Gonzalez (OG) and Aida Salazar. If you're around, come listen to us talk and come say hello.

Also, if you're looking for bilingual books in Oakland go check out Booklandia section and story time at Kelly's Corner in the Laurel District.