Award-winning author and illustrator David Elliot spoke to about 70 pupils from North East Valley, St Leonards, Bradford and Arthur Street schools at the Dunedin Public Library about his work and the process of creating books.
He wanted the children to learn how they could access their own imaginations and so shared the "idea soup" which inspired one of his books, Pigtails the Pirate.
Sketches of illustration ideas and a mock-up book were shown to the pupils, who were told one small picture could take up to two days to create.
They were even given a sneak-peak into one of Elliot's works in progress and had the opportunity to suggest a title.
Elliot and Joy Cowley were nominated for a junior fiction award for the book she wrote and he illustrated, Chicken Feathers.
The pair both worked for publishing company Penguin in the United States and were paired up in what he described as an "incredible privilege".
His father inspired him to draw from childhood, when he taught him how to draw sailing ships.
"It's nice to have parents who show you how to do things."
From ships, he branched out into writing and illustrating five of his own books and illustrating countless others, including five books in the Redwall series and two in the Castaways series, by British author Brian Jacques.
He hoped the children "shared his enthusiasm for stories" and would be encouraged to start drawing and writing themselves.
