SOUTHAMPTON — Fifth graders at Norris Elementary School were silent as they listened attentively to author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka recounting the very first picture book he made in third grade.

As students sat in the school’s library on Friday morning, Krosoczka used a projector to show pictures of “The Owl Who Thought He Was the Best Flyer,” which he illustrated and wrote while attending Gates Lane School in Worcester in the late 1980s. Complete with a cover, a title page and an author page at the end of his book, Krosoczka said the experience of creating it made a lasting impression on him.

“I just loved using my imagination,” Krosoczka said. “I remember my teacher teaching us all about brainstorming, organizing our ideas, writing a rough draft, editing and revising. And all those lessons I learned as a kid, I use today in these books that I write and illustrate that get published.”

Krosoczka, an award winning children’s book author and illustrator who lives in Florence, has written over 40 books. He is well-known for his crime-fighting “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series, and his recently published graphic memoir, “Hey, Kiddo,” was named a finalist for the National Book Awards 2018 for Young People’s Literature.

During his visit to Norris, the author and illustrator gave students an inside look into his early days as a young child drawing cartoons and writing his own stories.