Visiting Alfred Almond Elementary School

School and Library Visits

Looking for a way to spark your students' creativity? I love partnering with schools and libraries to teach kids the art of making comic books. Through an engaging multimedia presentation, I share my journey as an author and illustrator while breaking down how to write and draw a graphic novel. By exploring the essentials of visual storytelling, students learn valuable narrative skills they can apply to building their own comics.

The presentation is for groups of any size, grades 3-6. It lasts approximately 40 minutes (including Q&A).

Contact me at doogiehorner@gmail.com to schedule an appearance or get more information.

How much does an appearance cost?
Virtual visits: Are free for a 15-minute Q&A, or $100 for a full presentation.
In person visits: The cost varies depending on how close your school or library is to my home in Western New York. Buffalo, Rochester, and the Finger Lakes region are all pretty close to me, but I’m happy to travel further. Email me your location and I’ll send you a quote!

“Doogie’s fun and engaging visit gave our older kids a unique opportunity to learn directly from a professional creator. Through storytelling, drawing demonstrations, and hands-on activities, he inspired participants to explore their own creativity, build confidence in their artistic abilities, and gain a deeper appreciation for graphic novels and the creative process behind them.”

—Tracy Savard, director, Apalachin Library

Additional assets:

If you are a school or library looking to purchase 20 or more copies of the book, you can order directly from the publisher, Penguin, who will give you a discount on bulk orders.

Virtual book talk

Virtual book talk, question and answer

A lot of kids have built their own versions of Trash Robot at home. Here’s one made by George Polyzogopoulou from Athens, Greece.

Here’s a video of me answering some student questions after a virtual book talk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I order your books for our visit?
The best way to order books is to collaborate with a local bookstore. The bookseller will help make sure students and staff have the chance to pre-order books that are delivered ahead of time, so the books can be signed before or during the visit. If you don’t have any local bookstores, you can order directly from the publisher. I also have order forms you can hand out to your students to help you keep track of orders. Either way, the bookstore or publisher will probably provide you with a bulk order discount.

What grade levels do you visit?
My Invisible Boy presentations work best for grades 3-6, but I have also spoken to seventh and even eighth-graders. (I’m a little intimidated by eighth-graders because one time one of the girls made fun of my SpongeBob shirt.) Every visit is tailored to the needs and age group of your students.

How long is a school visit presentation?
Each presentation runs approximately 35–45 minutes, with student Q&A included in that time.

How many presentations can you do in one school day?
I offer up to three presentations per school day, each running 35–45 minutes. When you factor in setup, transitions between groups, and book signing, three sessions is about as much as you can squeeze into one school day. Get in touch to discuss a schedule that works for your school.

Do you only visit schools?
No! I’m also happy to visit libraries, book stores, book festivals, book fairs and more! (What would the “and more,” be? I don’t know! Surprise me.)

Do you travel to visit schools outside of Western NY?
Yes, I’m happy to travel anywhere in the United States to visit your school, as long as you’re able to cover the additional travel expenses. One time I visited this really cool little town on the coast of California called Pacifica. It was beautiful.

How do I book a school visit?
Email me at doogiehorner@gmail.com with your school name, location, and preferred dates and I will get back to you with availability and pricing.