Image from Wilfred, by Ryan Higgins ’06Image from "Wilfred," by Ryan Higgins ’06

Children’s book author and illustrator Ryan Higgins is the featured guest at College of the Atlantic’s next Coffee and Conversation event.

Higgins, a 2006 COA graduate, is the creator of “Wilfred,” “Twaddleton’s Cheese” and other colorful, whimsical books featuring kind-hearted monsters and unlikely friendships. On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Higgins will join COA writing and literature lecturer Katharine Turok to discuss his creative process. The event takes place from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Deering Common Community Center and is free and open to the public.

Higgins has been drawing cartoons since he was 4 years old. All through his younger years he enjoyed comics and books, and counts as inspirations the Calvin and Hobbes comic series and Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are.”

Ryan Higgins ’06

Higgins lives in Kittery and enjoys working with children. During the summer, he runs author and illustrator camps for children in grades 2-5 from his studio. Higgins enjoys guiding his students through the process of creating books, from brainstorming ideas to writing, illustrating and designing.

“Wilfred” has been popular with children and was named a Wanda Gág Read Aloud Honor Book Award in 2014.

COA’s Coffee and Conversation Series spans the political, cultural and social issues shaping our world. Guest speakers include writers, scientists, business leaders and artists.