Reading at the Lake
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Yoko Kawashima Watkins addressing sixth graders at
Halifax Elementary School. Author Links: David Biedrzyck Timothy Basil Ering Melissa Glenn Haber Deborah Noyes Matt Tavares |
Authors Make a Splash Visits by popular authors have made a splash
with students at our elementary schools and middle school. As part of the Reading
at the Lake
author series, students were visited by an author at each grade level. The successful series provided
students with insight into the writing and bookmaking process. Students were amazed that even well
known authorsı start with a sloppy copy and often write several drafts before
the book arrives at libraries and bookstores. Looking back over the school year, first graders giggled their way through a presentation by Timothy Basil Ering the author of Frog Belly Rat Bone and illustrator of the 2004 Newbery Medal winning book Tales of Despereaux He reminded students that their ideas are important. Looking closely at the illustrations in the Beetle Alphabet Book, second graders looked for the Beatle song titles that illustrator David Biedryzckie hid on each page, He shared the process of illustrating nonfiction books noting the time he spends visiting libraries and museums to research the topics of the books he illustrates. Meeting author Deborah Noyes, who also works as
an editor, offered third graders an interesting perspective of the writing
process. She highlighted her
historical fiction book Hana in the Time of the Tulips. As the Red Sox headed to the World
Series, Matt Tavares, the author of the inspiring baseball tale Zacharyıs
Ball, treated fourth graders to a presentation. Fifth graders were able to ask author Melissa Glenn Haber,
the author of The Adventures of Hercules Amsterdam, all about how she writes
and gets her ideas. Haber spoke of her love for words and how she likes to
challenge readers with words that will send them to the dictionary. Irene Smalls addressed middle school
students during Black History Month.
The author of many multicultural books read from her story Ebony
Sea. Recently, author Yoko Kawashima Watkins
captivated sixth graders with tales from her homeland of Japan. Utilizing a traditional Japanese
Paper Theater, Watkins shared a story from her book Tales from the Bamboo
Grove. She told students it was listening to
these tales that helped her understand how to put a story together. With guidance from Watkins,
students created their own book complete with written Japanese characters. Each author visit was well received and helped
generate an environment of great excitement and appreciation for reading and
writing! |
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