Inspiring Young Readers: Catching Up with Jarrett Krosoczka
Passion for reading can start at a young age — it certainly did for me. Jarrett Krosoczka — New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of more than 40 books for young readers — knows this, and creates stories with humor, heart, and deep respect for young readers. His first book, Hey, Kiddo, brings readers to his childhood camp — and the place where his perspective on life shifted. In most recent memoir, Sunshine: A Graphic Novel, Jarrett brings readers back to the camp to meet the counselors that changed his outlook on life for good.
Not long ago, I came across Jarrett’s most recent TED Talk “Live Drawings of the Human Experience” that inspired me to reach out and find out more about Jarrett’s unique approach to his creative practice — and how he inspires others to be creative. His work goes beyond his writing and illustration. Knowing that his books inspire young readers beyond the page, Krosoczka founded School Lunch Hero Day, a national campaign that celebrates school lunch staff. An advocate for arts education, he also established the Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka Memorial Youth Scholarships, which fund art classes for underprivileged children in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.
We caught up recently to talk about how his approach to his creative work shifted these past two years and what and who continue to inspire him.
Laura: What have been your greatest influences as you’ve developed as an artist over the years?
Jarrett: I would say that the most crucial piece of influence came when I was fifteen years old. I took classes at the Worcester Art Museum and enrolled in a comic book class with Mark Lynch. Mark would always bring in indie and alternative comics to widen our worldview beyond that of superheroes. When I brought in a book called How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way, Mark told me to “forget everything I had learned.” It was a really big moment for me and taught me that I had a style worth celebrating even if it didn’t look like the polished work I saw in superhero comics.
Laura: Do you ever get ‘stuck’ when you’re trying to find your next idea? How do you get unstuck’?
Jarrett: I never get stuck for the next idea — those are never in short supply. I get stuck on how to realize my current idea. I find that while I do need to sit down and get the work done, it also helps me to go for a walk or execute simple tasks that are seemingly mindless — washing the dishes, tending to the yard, etc. In those moments, my brain wanders, and I can efficiently problem solve.
Laura: All of us have had to learn a ‘new normal’ these past two years. If at all, has there been ‘something’ that’s inspired you during this time that shifted how you think about your own creative practice? This could be anything from a new way of working to a new piece of work.
Jarrett: In The Before, I was constantly on the move. I had a work trip every single week. When that was taken away, I realized how much trouble I had focusing because things were so still. I received an Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) diagnosis, which helped me organize and understand how to get creative output going.
Laura: What advice would you give others who are looking to start or build their own creative practice?
Jarrett: I think having a dedicated space for creativity is imperative, even if it is just a corner in your bedroom. As my family grew and the house became more chaotic, I needed a space outside of the house. I tried renting a studio space down the street, which proved too inconvenient. I now work in a studio that is a spacious converted shed in the backyard. We designed the space to have ample light, so there are skylights and transom windows running along the walls.
Laura: A bonus question for you: are there songs that inspire your creativity?
Jarrett: Anything by Vince Guaraldi Trio. Their music is so calming and centering for me.
