When I signed a book for Texas media specialist Jessica Scheller, she asked me if I would be willing to use a special pen.

Jessica Scheller, an Information Literacy Specialist at Bethune Academy, a third and fourth grade campus in Aldine ISD  in the Houston area, has a very cool display of pens used by authors to autograph books.

Here’s her explanation:

“I started a display case in my library that has the title “Authors Write Here”.  I decided to begin a collection of books signed to the students of my campus by popular authors. To make the collection even more special, I have a large plastic test tube (that primary grades use for science) that holds the pen the author used to sign the book next to it – an artifact, of sorts – touched by the author and saved for posterity!”

“On the wall behind the display case is a collection of photographs of the authors at the signings (using THEIR pen). I have pulled some of the books by the authors to be next to the display for students to check out, and all the authors have books in our collection.”

“The display has sparked many unconventional conversations with students. Their eyes widen in disbelief as I tell them that the author touched that very pen in our case. Then either their mouths open in awe, or their noses crinkle just before they start giggling – but they ALL ask for one of the author’s books. Students can receive the privilege to read the signed copy, with special circumstances (a great behavior incentive or hard-work-done, well-earned privilege).”

“So far I have Jon Sceszka (The Stinky Cheese Man), Mary Amato (Please Write in This Book, Riot Brothers, Word Eater), Kevin O’Malley (Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude), Chris Barton (The Day-Glo Brothers and Shark Vs. Trains), Don Tate (Ron’s Big Mission), and this year’s (2011-2012) Bluebonnet Book authors Marilyn Singer (Mirror Mirror) and Dori Hillestad Butler (The Case of the Lost Boy).”