Daryl Cobb

Art Form(s):

Literary Arts

Artist Statement

Writing a story is often a personal journey, as it requires the writer to use their imagination and, at times, reach within themselves to pull out useful life experiences. My goal at the end of the day is for kids to understand how to use their own life experiences to help them become better writers and develop ideas for stories. In my programs I use every skill I have (storytelling, singing, guitar, acting, graphics, and humorous and relatable retrospection), including audience participation to make my work and life experiences come alive. Once they see how I intertwine my small moments, they can easily understand the concept and how to apply that concept. At that point they can go back to class and use it to develop vivid details, characters, plots, and settings.

Artist Bio

Daryl is a New Jersey author (18 books for children), storyteller, musician, singer/songwriter, actor and premier school assembly performer who promotes literacy through creative arts.
Daryl’s has been a full-time visiting author in schools across the United States since 2010 and has completed over 1000 school visits. In 2024 he did over 200 performances in schools for students from grades K-6th grades, and BOCES of New York State’s Arts in Education has consistently ranked his visits and programs in schools, as “Excellent”.

Daryl’s published works include hit children’s novels, “Baseball, Bullies & Angels” and the swashbuckling tale “Pirates: The Ring of Hope”, as well as 15 fun picture books such as “Mr. Moon”, and “Greta’s Magical Mistake.” Daryl’s books have received many positive reviews over the years, including becoming recommended reads by Kirkus Reviews.

Daryl began getting serious about writing in college as a Theatre Arts major at Virginia Commonwealth University. He found a freshman writing class inspiring and combined with his love for music and the guitar, he discovered a passion for songwriting. This talent would motivate him for years to come and would eventually land him an opportunity to record his music in Nashville.

After college, Daryl continued to write songs and study acting. He began to get work as an actor right out of college. His first paid professional roles came when he was cast in the “Man of La Mancha”. Daryl landed more acting roles at Virginia Repertory Theater (Theater IV), appearing in plays for their traveling children’s theater company. Through the year Daryl has appeared on stage in many productions including “Boloxi Blues”, “The Woolgather” and Landford Wilson’s “The Fifth of July”, as well as TV commercials.

In the 90s, Daryl met a girl, got married, and they had a baby. A boy! At that time, he began writing bedtime stories for his son. The rhythmic nature of song also found its way into his bedtime stories. Many of the stories he wrote for his son, and later his daughter, would eventually go on to become the books children are reading today.