Children's Book Author Tad Hills Shares Creative Work In Pocantico Hills

SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. -- Author Tad Hills and his cast of children's book characters -- Duck & Goose and Rocket the dog -- visited the Pocantico Hills School Library in Sleepy Hollow on Thursday to share stories, paint illustrations and open a world of book publishing to children in kindergarten through second grade.

Author Tad Hills visited the Pocantico Hills School library to share stories and paint illustrations.
Photo Credit: *Danny LoPriore*

Hills painted an illustration of a duck.
Photo Credit: *Danny LoPriore*

by Danny LoPriore

10/18/2014 5:00 a.m.

Hills, who lives in Brooklyn and spends many hours at New York area schools answering the how's and why's of his young readers, spent several hours talking about his life and career as a children's book author and illustrator.

Led by Pocantico Schools Librarian Anne Gordon, the children asked Hills how his characters were created, how he comes up with his story ideas and what goes into making the books they can find in book stores and in their own library.

"The children get a lot from these kinds of experiences where they can see the person who has created the books they read," Gordon said. "We know they have very active imaginations and the arts give them so many opportunities to create. The children really enjoy these events."

Hills sketched and painted several pieces for the school library and tried to stay ahead of the barrage of questions from the little readers.

"I visit many schools and always enjoy showing the kids how they can write and illustrate their own stories," Hills said. "I think seeing the author in person adds a reality to where books come from and what it takes to create them. I have been drawing and painting for 40 years since I was very young. I enjoy inspiring young children."

Click here to follow Daily Voice Tarrytown-SleepyHollow and receive free news updates.