First Friday: Read Out Loud & Q&A: What in the World Is Ezra’s Art?

Join legendary drag queen Emigrate for a reading of Eric Toda & Shay Fan’s latest children’s book What in the World is Ezra’s Art? Ezra is a seven-year-old boy who likes cheese-flavored ice cream, flying off the couch with his superhero cape, and peeling dried glue off his fingers. And he LOVES making art. Every day at Braddock Elementary, he doodles, draws, paints, and crafts with abandon. But there is one problem: no one understands it. Ezra questions whether he should continue to make art when nobody seems to get, or even like, his creations. What in the World Is Ezra’s Art? explores the question: can he feel good about his art when no one else does? 

Eric Toda is a tech executive who has held brand and digital marketing leadership roles at Fortune 100 companies including: Gap Inc., Airbnb, Snapchat, and Nike. His work has garnered Cannes Lions, Webbys, Clios, and Shortys. Eric wanted to tell a story that encourages children, including his own, to be creative without fear of judgment. He lives with his family in the Bay Area. 

Shay Fan writes family-friendly comedic adventure stories featuring Asian American protagonists that want to change their world. She has consulted for technology and healthcare companies including YouTube, Microsoft, Roche, and AbbVie. This is her first book. She lives with her family in Los Angeles.