Reading at the Lake Makes a Splash!
By
Linda Redding
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 authors’ 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 Zachary’s 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.
R
ecently,
author Yoko Kawishma 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.
Reading
at the Lake was the created through a grant by Elizabeth
Sorrell, Assistant Superintendent Schools for the Silver
Lake Regional School District. Kathy Donovan of Turning
Pages in Melrose planned and implemented the author visits.
Donovan, a retired classroom teacher and reading
specialist, worked closely with each library teacher and
provided support materials for classroom
teachers.
Each author visit was well received
and helped generate an environment of great excitement and
appreciation for reading and writing!
Debbie Dallaire, Library Teacher, Kingston
Schools
Linda Redding, Library Teacher, Halifax
Elementary
Vicki Wright, Library Teacher, Dennett
Elementary
