Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator

About Me

I am an educational aide in a k-2 school in Fairfield County Connecticut. In 2006 I also became a published author having published my first three books for children. In June 2007 I released Abstracts 2: more minimalist scribblings.
If Picasso Were a Fish was released in May, If I Had a Gift was released in July and Abstracts in August 2006.
If Picasso Were a Fish takes the subject of a fish and looks at it through the artistic styles of 15 artists from Picasso to Pollack.
If I Had a Gift is about a kid who wants to give a friend a great gift and ends up giving friendship which is the best gift of all.
Abstracts: minimalist scribblings was conceived after a visit to The Hawthorne Cedar Knolls school in Hawthorne New York where I spent two wonderful mornings talking about art and cartooning with students of their summer program.
Abstracts 2: more minimalist scribblings was in response to the, well tremendous response, to the first Abstracts. Since the book is truly interactive with children from 2-10 it has become the book I read the most to the kids where I work. So Abstracts 2 seemed to be something I needed to get finished.
Check them out when you get a chance.

If Picasso Were a Fish
by Skip Ploss
buy it now at Lulu.com
$15.99

If I Had a Gift
by Skip Ploss
buy it now at Lulu.com
$14.99

If I Had a Gift
by Skip Ploss
buy it now at Lulu.com
$9.99

My Interests

Writing, art, community theatre, trebuchets

I'd like to meet:

Other children's authors and consumers who can read or like pictures...yes.

Also, Sharon Creech and Mo Willems who are both unbelievable children's authors. Frank O Gehry, Michael Graves (great designers), Chris Moore, David McCullough and Dan Brown.

If you'd like to go to my online stores you can:
Cafe Press is where I have designs on things.

Lulu Press is where my books are published.
Blogs
The Merry Leech : Commentary about life in and around Fairfield County Connecticut.
Ikura Soup's Children's Book Corner : Book reviews of mainly picture books that I find interesting, or in some cases, a run away warning.
The View from Plossville : Stuff that happens around these here parts.
Keemwasabi's Ham Factory : Kid friendly poetry.
Nori With Jam : Experiments in poetry.

Please Note: The language, discussions and pictures expressed on the pages by the people in my friends section below are not controlled by me and therefore do not reflect my opinions or feelings. Click on them at your own risk. The "Top 8" are screened and should be ok but again, no promises.

Music:

Jazz: Dave Brubeck, Chris Brubeck, Dan Brubeck, Acoustic Alchemy, Hiroshima...more.
Blues: bb King, Gary More, Buddy Guy, more...
Pop/Rock: Dire Straits, Jeff Beck, Yes, Lisa Loeb, Steely Dan, Better Than Ezra, HEM, No More Kings, Dirt Poor Robins, All American Rejects, Silverchair, Paolo Nutini, Lenny Kravitz, The Traveling Wilburys, The Killers, Future of Forestry and more.

Movies:

Outland, Silverado, 1776, Shrek, The Seven Ups, Bullit, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, The Producers, Sketches of Frank Gehry, Star Wars (all 6).

Television:

Family Guy, Futurama, Myth Busters, Mock The Week (youtube), Thank God You're Here, Two and a Half Men, TopGear.

Books:

Anything by Chris Moore, Douglas Adams, Arthur C Clarke or David McCullough (that's a nice spread). Lamb, The gospel of Judas, Dirty Job, DaVinci Code, Picasso and Matisse, John Adams, 1776, 1491, 2001, 2010, Angels and Demons.

Heroes:

The kids and teachers I work with. Le Corbusier, Frank O Gehry, The Harvard Five, Picasso, Matisse. Many more.

My Blog

No More Kings and When Not to do a 5k

I can not say enough about No More Kings. I purchased their self-titled debut album off of iTunes after seeing the video for "Sweep The Leg" on TV and have enjoyed every Bee buzzing, umbrella covered,...
Posted by Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:04:00 PST

New Gig

Well the contracts have been signed and it's official, I have been hired as the new fall director for Wilton Children's Theater. The group does musicals with kids from 4th to 8th grade. The show this ...
Posted by Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:14:00 PST

Being Popular

I consider myself a likable enough fellow but I must say that since joining MySpace I seem to have become quite popular with young scantily dressed women I don't know. Now I am no rocket scientist bu...
Posted by Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator on Sun, 24 Jun 2007 08:19:00 PST

Touring

Some folks have asked about me Touring to promote my books. The latest was this weekend. I thought I should post something about appearances, tours and the like. Since I am doing this publishing thing...
Posted by Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator on Mon, 28 May 2007 03:48:00 PST

Chris Moore

I have a few favorite authors. Besides my friends at Lulu, Mike Lawrence and John Albright among them, there is also David Mccullough, Arthur C Clarke and Douglas Adams. Now I have a new one to add, C...
Posted by Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator on Sat, 31 Mar 2007 05:29:00 PST

The End and a Beginning

Well, tomorrow is "meet the teacher day" which marks the first time kids are in the building on official school business since June. To me, this marks the official beginning of the school year althoug...
Posted by Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator on Thu, 24 Aug 2006 07:47:00 PST

Maggie Pagratis and Liliane Grenier

I love booboos! Maggie Pagratis and Liliane Grenier's book "Go Away Booboo" is a delight. We all wish it were just that easy to send the booboos away. Skip...
Posted by Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator on Sat, 19 Aug 2006 07:45:00 PST

What I am taking back to school (and what back to school means for me)

So, in a little over a week I head back to school. I am 46 years old, this year I am in 1st grade. I need to explain. I am a classroom aide by day, drawing, theatre and invention teacher by mid-aftern...
Posted by Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator on Thu, 17 Aug 2006 03:32:00 PST

Really Cool

A friend passed this along. It's really cool and a great use of Flash animation. It is also rated "G". jacksonpollock.org (this will open in a new window)...
Posted by Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator on Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:28:00 PST

Author Visit

I had the second of two author visits to Hawthorne Cedar Knolls School in Hawthorne New York today. I had a great time with the students creating art and playing art games. I also read them both "If P...
Posted by Skip Ploss Author/Illustrator on Wed, 16 Aug 2006 07:37:00 PST