Zenz presents to Hillsdale Academy high school students.
COLLEGIAN | ANNA BROUSSARD
Childlike creativity can make a significant difference, said children’s author and illustrator Aaron Zenz ’98 at Hillsdale Academy on March 21.
“It’s great getting kids excited about art and story through my books and school visits,” Zenz said in an email. “If they leave the session and forget all about me but want to go out and make new stuff, to bring good and beautiful things into the world, I’d say ‘mission accomplished!’”
Zenz has written and illustrated nine picture books and illustrated an additional 36 books written by other authors, he said.
“It is a unique space in the publishing world,” Zenz said during his presentation to academy students last week. “Children’s literature is one unique spot where the people that the books are meant for are not the same people who are creating it.”
Zenz said this is less of an issue in his own work because his family inspires most of what he writes and illustrates.
“Our family historically has loved books, so not only do I make books, I like books. Books have good hearts,” Zenz said.
His own children began reviewing books at a young age on their family blog, “Bookie Woogie,” which quickly became a significant part of the Zenz family’s life.
“Over the course of those seven years that we had that blog, my kids actually got really famous, way more famous than I was as an author or illustrator, probably ever really,” Zenz said. “ I would have a new book come out, and people would say ‘he’s the dad of Bookie Woogie kids,’ and that’s what they were the most excited about.”
According to Hillsdale Academy’s director of fine arts, Gail Mowry, bringing Zenz to the academy was meant to inspire the students to pursue art as a profession.
“He spoke of his journey through college not really knowing what he wanted to do, but art kept calling him,” Mowry said in an email. “It’s something we encourage our students to hear. We want them to explore and learn all disciplines, so they have a better understanding of the good, true, and beautiful around them.”
Mowry said throughout Zenz’s visit with the academy, he spoke to more than 300 students about fostering the creative arts through the liberal arts education in Hillsdale schools such as the academy and college.
“He highlighted how much of his art is done with, or inspired by, his family,” Mowry said. “At the academy, we place a high value on the role of the family. We see the family as the first educators and we, as a school, come alongside the family to educate the student. His ability to demonstrate the creative process within his family made a solid application of our fine arts department’s desire to have families working together creatively.”
According to Zenz, his education at Hillsdale College shaped much of his passion for creativity and encouraged him to pursue a career in art.
“Hillsdale College provides for both the development of skill sets and the fostering of creativity,” Zenz said. “The training I received in studio classes gave me a great understanding of forms and space and techniques. I then applied these skills practically through a variety of creative opportunities such as writing and drawing for The Collegian, crafting visual stories for student-led talent shows, participating in Daughtrey Gallery juried art exhibits, and creating advertising for the art, theater, and music departments.”
Mowry said Zenz’s visit was beneficial for all the students, particularly for the high school students, as he talked about art as his service to the world.
“Aaron was able to show high school students many ways of expressing creativity while being a positive impact on his community, as well as being able to make a living doing what he is passionate about,” Mowry said.
Academy freshman Emma Summers said Zenz’s talk made her more confident about pursuing a career in art.
“It was definitely interesting,” Summers said. “I know that people have art as a profession. It’s really cool and it would be really fun to do for a job.”
Similarly, Ellie Mowry, who is in 5th grade at the academy, said she was inspired by Zenz.
“I want to go home and make art and books when I get home,” she said.
Mowry said that Zenz’s visit was very special for academy students.the students at the academy.
“We were so thankful to have Mr. Zenz come visit. It’s not every day that we get a visit from an author/illustrator of so many books,” Mowry said. “Our art teacher, Pam Heckel, was the one that suggested bringing him in and prepared all the students for his visit. She really should get a lot of the credit for this enriching day.”
For Zenz, the ability to create and impact kids becomes a whole world for the artist and readers.
“The children’s literature world is thriving right now,” Zenz said. “There is a great demand for excellence in story and art, even for the youngest of readers. I love being able to build worlds and characters that bring delight into the lives of children and their families.”
