Abiyoyo Story Arts
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Let's organize a hands-on student workshop.

Here's where students put Abiyoyo Story Arts into practice. Students get a chance to create their own original illustrated characters. I give them immediate feedback and answer their questions as they begin the process of writing and drawing their own picture books.

Illustration workshop projects:

Kindergarten and lower elementary students
Draw your own version of the giant Abiyoyo. He can be scary or silly, but make sure he looks original and not just like my illustrated version of Abiyoyo.

Upper elementary students
Draw scenes from your own version of a story about a kid who's not afraid of a scary giant. Add details from the world around you: someone who lives in your neighborhood, a family pet, sights and sounds you see and hear where you live.

Middle school students
Draw completely original characters: young, old, male, female, ordinary, unusual, heros, villains, rich, poor, etc. Draw a scene where these characters live, work, play and go to school.

High school students
Students draw or paint your best original character in a dramatic encounter taking place where the character lives, works or goes to school.

Retirement community members
Members draw or paint an original character in a dramatic encounter based on a time and place from their childhood.


How about a writing project?

My Abiyoyo Story Arts presentation can serve as a starting point for student writing projects. Students can begin working on these writing projects in advance of seeing my assembly program. Then we can answer specific questions about how to work with their ideas as they write and edit more and illustrate their work.

Writing workshop projects:

Kindergarten and lower elementary students
Write down a description of a scary (but silly) giant you make up. What does he look like? What does he wear? What does he like to do?

Upper elementary students
Write your own story about a kid who's not afraid of a scary giant. Use Abiyoyo as a starting point, but replace all the characters and the setting with your own original characters and settings.

Middle school students
Create a story about a kid and a “problem character”. Think of a problem kids might be experiencing. The problem could be a bully, an emotional issue like fear of the dark, thoughts like “I can’t do math", "I don’t fit in", "I’m bored all the time", or "I don’t feel safe”. Now imagine this “problem” as a character: human, animal or machine, realistic or fantastical. Make up physical characteristics which express the “problem”. For example, I designed Abiyoyo to look a bit like a problem with technology. Draw your “problem character” and a child confronting this “problem” character. Make up a story of how the your child character solves the “problem”.

High school students
Develop written descriptions of several very different original characters: young, old, male, female, ordinary, unusual, heros, villains, rich, poor, etc. Beyond a physical description, write about where these characters live, how they work and play, what they like, dislike. Some of them might dislike each other. Students then write a complete draft of a story what happens when these characters meet each other and overcome their differences.

Retirement community members
Develop written descriptions of several very different characters from their lives: physical descriptions, where these friends and family live, how they work and play, what they like, dislike. Some of them might dislike each other. Community members then write a complete draft of a story what happened in a particularly memorable time in their lives.


Published books of student artwork

With enough time, coordination and budget we can create and publish a bound full color book of original student writing and illustrations. I art direct, design and coordinate the printing and publication. Parents can purchase these bound full color editions of student work. Think big! Let's discuss the posibilities for a published group project at your school.

Group writing and illustration projects:

Alphabet book themes
My book W is for Windy City, A Chicago Alphabet serves as a template for a writing project. That's how students of Elmwood School created “F is for Fun with Friends”. First older students wrote 26 poems. I led workshop several classes and students began illustrating these poems. The art teacher devoted additional class time for the students to finalize their art. I selected the best illustrations, designed and produced digital print files and published a full color hard cover bound edition. Parents and teachers were able to purchase copies through the online printing service, lulu.com.

Characters in a Community
We can write a single narrative conceived and illustrated by a large group of students. I call this project “Fictional Community: An Illustrated Encounter”. If you are interested in this sort of challenging writing and illustration project, I'll send an outline of the creative process and timeline for this project.

Contact me to schedule an illustration workshop or group writing project at your school or retirement community.

email mh@michaelhays.com