KENNEWICK, Wash. – Authors and illustrators are on a mission to inspire creativity in Kennewick schools this week.

One of them is Ralph Masiello, an illustrator affectionately known as the “Icky Bug Man.” Masiello is renowned for his first illustration book, “The Icky Bug Alphabet Book.” Since embarking on his publishing journey in the 1980s, he has visited over 3,000 schools.

Masiello shared what made his visit to Kennewick special. “The schools here are so prepared. The kids have seen the books. They understand what an author visit is. They understand when illustrator visit is. So, it’s a lot of fun to see the little faces when you start to draw and they’re drawing along with you. That’s the best feeling,” he said.

Masiello also offered some art advice to the students. “Well, one of the things that I hear a lot from kids is, ‘Oh, I made a mistake. I made a mistake.’ You know, you didn’t make a mistake. It’s just part of the evolution of your drawing, and sometimes the mistakes… and here’s what I like to tell kids… sometimes your mistakes are the best part of your drawing.”

This marks Masiello’s second year visiting Kennewick schools, and he described it as a rewarding experience. During his visit, he held an assembly with elementary students and visited classrooms. His parting advice to the youth emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes rather than just successes.

For more information on Ralph Masiello and his work, visit the author’s official site.