Today, I spent the day at the Joseph E. Coleman Library in Philadelphia teaching kids how to draw and create comic book characters. This is a very cool library with a 1970s era wooden dragon sculpture lording over the children's area. 
The graphic novel collection at this library is growing by leaps and bounds. This was an engaged, informed group of kids who were eager to learn and wanted to push their drawings further. It was different to be in the city after spending much of the week in the suburbs and farmland surrounding the city of brotherly love. The roads here wind and wind until, FRAFFLE!, there you are in Philadelphia. 
Pennsylvania is quite a place to be. The suburbs are bustling with energy and the libraries are true community centers where families congregate and librarians put together amazing programs for kids of all ages. The pastoral farmland is peaceful with libraries as the heart and soul of the towns. The librarians in all the places we've been have created oasis of culture and a love of life-long learning. It is truly exciting to meet fans of The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli here and to introduce new fans to this all ages graphic novel series. 
Day 2 of my Pennsylvania library tour was a fantastic mix of scenery and fun mix of kids from around the state. I was in three spots, starting the day off in the peaceful farmland surrounding Atglen Public Library. Next, we were off to the busy streets of historic West Chester then spent the evening with young graphic novel fans at Tredyffrin Public Library in Tredyffrin Township. A couple of additional stops during the day included interviews with the Community Courier newspaper and WCHE radio with host Michele Paiva. Check out video clips from these interviews HERE and HERE. 
A brief recap of the events in the first volume leads directly into the action as young Eli and Commander X arrive in the undersea city of Aquaria after the Commander rescues the boy from a time vortex. Eli learns about the history of the undersea cities (including Atlantis) just as the Hydrons that assailed him and his companions in the time vortex attack Aquaria. Eli works to defend Aquaria, even as Commander X is captured by the attackers. The past plays a strong role in what occurs in the present, familial loyalties and betrayals cause repercussions throughout the undersea world, and Eli learns that his own jaunt 5,000 years into the past has many consequences. While the first graphic novel spent a lot of time introducing characters and seemed overly wordy, this volume is an action-packed, fast-paced story full of derring-do. Piscopo again blends 3D-style art with traditional cartooning and updates old-fashioned adventure storytelling for today’s young readers.
Yesterday, I travelled to a couple of libraries in Maine to teach kids how to Draw on Their Creativity. I was at the William Fogg Public Library in Eliot, Maine (photos) and the Springvale Public Library in Springvale, Maine (photos). 
Next week, I'm off and away to Pennsylvania for a week-long public library tour. 
I had a great time today doing drawing workshops at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, Maine.
Tommorow, I head to the William Fogg Public Library in Eliot, Maine and the Springvale Public Library in Springvale, Maine. Then next week I'm off and away for a week-long library tour in Pennsylvania.
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