One of my more vivid memories of kindergarten is when a ventriloquist came to visit our classroom. I remember being fascinated by ventriloquism as a result. I even had my own puppet that looked like Edgar Bergen's Charlie McCarthy.

I didn't grow up to be a ventriloquist.
Today I am an artist. I create oil paintings, murals, animated films and best of all children's storybook illustrations.

I'm happy to now be visiting classrooms myself and meeting the next generation.
- Perhaps, one child and hopefully many will remember my visit vividly.
- Perhaps, he or she will be fascinated by art and be driven to explore and create.
- Perhaps, one child might grow up to live a career as an artist.
--- Or perhaps instead becomes a highly creative scientist, engineer or astronaut still remembering and being inspired by that visit by an artist in Kindergarten class who said,
"You can do anything you dream to do. It just takes practice, practice, practice."

- Nathan Jensen Illustrator of "Don't Ever Cross that Road -an Armadillo Story" "Life in the Slow Lane -a Desert Tortoise Tale" "Desert Night Shift -A Pack Rat Story"

Jensen and son painting "Life in the Slow Lane"

"Making of a Picture Book"

Nathan Jensen's 30 minute presentation steps lively through the process of turning the words of an author into a colorful and entertaining children's picture book.