‘WHO DUNNIT?’—Aspen Elementary School second-grader Alison Johnston, 7, asks Kevin Tseng about how to write a book. Tseng is an alumnus of Aspen and a children’s book author and illustrator. He visited the Thousand Oaks school on Oct. 28. Sitting in front of the fourthgraders at Aspen Elementary in Thousand Oaks, Kevin Tseng couldn’t help but reminisce.

“If you can believe it, 30 years ago I was a first-grader here,” he said.

Tseng didn’t return to Aspen for a reunion though. The newly published children’s book author and illustrator decided to return to his roots to face some tough critics.

He spent last Wednesday meeting with all the kids at Aspen, grade by grade, to share his personal journey and get feedback on his book, “Ned’s New Home.”

The story is about a small green worm who lives in an apple—until it starts to rot, that is. The book follows Ned’s travels as he tries unsuccessfully to find a home in a pear, a lemon, a stack of blueberries and even a kiwi.

As Tseng read his story, the kids ooohed and aaaahed at every turn of the page, as the colorful images depicted Ned’s troubles, from falling out of a wobbling pear to being snatched up by a bird while building a home out of cherries.

Tseng went on to explain the many steps of the publishing process and shared his early sketches, storyboards and paintings with the kids. He talked about the rejections he got from some publishing houses, who felt that Ned’s story wasn’t exciting or action-packed enough or that it didn’t fit in with the other kinds of stories they published.

And once a publisher did pick up “Ned’s New Home,” Tseng said he had to accept new ideas and hold his ground against others.

“They did have a lot of new, great ideas,” he said. “But some I didn’t agree with, and I really had to try hard to explain why. You can use that in your own writing. It’s interesting to hear what other people have to say. Sometimes we don’t like suggestions at first, but then later you may think, ‘Maybe that’s okay.’”

Tseng talked to the kids about the changes he made to the story. For example, Ned originally lived in a peach before he decided an apple was a better home for a worm.

Born and raised in Thousand Oaks, Tseng attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he studied biology and fine art. He is a watercolorist and has made a living creating greeting cards and other stationery items. But he’s known since college that illustrating books was in his future.

Tseng answered questions after his talk. Joseph Alvidrez, 9, asked how he decided to start writing “Ned’s New Home.”

“I always loved children’s books as a kid, but I didn’t necessarily know that’s what I wanted to (create) when I was young,” Tseng said. “When I was painting in college, my style started to look more and more like that of children’s books. The story just followed. It was like a daydream. It popped into my head, and I just needed to draw (Ned).”

Kim Barclay, a fourth-grade teacher, asked what her kids could work on now if they were interested in writing or illustrating.

“Teachers have really good ideas,” Tseng said with a smile. “It’s good to listen to other opinions.”

“Ned’s New Home” is available on amazon.com and in some Barnes & Noble bookstores. It can be ordered from any Barnes & Noble. For more information, visit www.kevintseng.com.