Librarian Sue Dahlstrom surprised me with this rendition of my nostril song (from my book Stinky and Successful) sung by kids at Wayne Elementary School (PA)!
Seeing kids devour books is such a pleasure!!! This week, I had the privilege of visiting a school in Anacostia through Dara La Porte’s new non-profit Open Book Foundation. Thanks to Terry Borzumato-Greenberg and all the good people at Holiday House for donating copies of my books to the kids, their teachers, and the school’s library.
The mission of An Open Book Foundation, formerly Literacy & Prose, is to excite children and teens about reading by connecting them with authors and illustrators and then giving each child a copy of the author’s book to take home. It is often the first book the child has ever owned. 
Parent Stacey Kane sent in an entry to my “Give Back to Maryland” Contest and won a free author visit to her elementary school. The Westover Elementary School’s third, fourth, and fifth graders were fun to talk with and eager to participate in my “revision can be fun” improvisation. The Code Videen family made this poster for my visit. Keep writing, Westover!
I enjoyed visiting Colin Powell Elementary School in VA. Mrs. Keleher’s class wowed me by sharing their collaborative writer’s notebook, inspired by my book Please Write in This Book. Keep writing!!!!
A huge thank you to the students, staff, and parents of Wayne Elementary School (PA). The one-week residency was so fun. Each classroom was buzzing with energy as students created funny and exciting stories and developed interesting characters.
Parent coordinator Jennifer Reid Holman thought of everything! Even flowers for my room.
The welcoming artwork was great. I loved the giant card the students made.
I taught writing workshops in all the classrooms from grades 2-5. I learned a lot from the students and teachers, too. Mrs. Becker and Mrs. Cook had cool ideas for encouraging writing in their classrooms.
Librarian Extraordinaire Sue Dahlstrom had the kids doing all sort of Riot Brother games, like Knot-a-Sock and Rumpus Bumpus.
Keep making up stories, WES students!!!!
Tess, a 10-year-old reader in Indiana, chose me for a biography project. I was honored to be interviewed. Then, she created this work of art to illustrate her biography and shared it with me. I love how she pictured me reading outside under a tree (the right corner of her picture). Thanks, Tess!
I had a wonderful time sharing my writing process with kids at Central School in Wilmette, IL. All the students asked great questions. Thanks to Mr. Truman for inviting me!
Loved being at Abington Friends School in PA. Thanks to all the parents, teachers, students, and staff for making the author visit so fun.
I enjoyed meeting fellow author Wendy Mass.
How fun to read the students’ writing.