Readathon Week author visits

Yesterday and today saw three terrific literary-based presentations, in our run-up to tomorrow's Readathon.

 First, Olivia Hackett-Shaughnessy wove stories together for our 2/3 and 4/5 classrooms. I was lucky to catch the first session; she began with a "pourquoi" creation story from Africa featuring an unlucky rabbit, the character of which she then connected to the Brer Rabbit stories of slaves in the American south. Next came a Brothers Grimm version of Rapunzel, followed by a Chinese ghost story from the California gold rush, and the concluding, at student request, with another scary story about Coronado and the search for the Seven Cities of Gold. Students and adults alike were captivated by the way she dropped into characters, switched out into narration, and pulled even further out to ask comprehension questions and give thinking prompts. Olive also sent us this lovely note afterwards:

I always wish I had said something after I leave a performance. Never fails.
  This time it was to your students and teachers--and you.
  The measure of kindness the world around is how a community welcomes a stranger. By that measure,
you and your school are a shining example of community. Please share that with all.
  What a delightful experience.
  Sincerely, Olive

This morning, local author and illustrator Elisa Kleven stopped by to read and speak with the K/1 students. She read from her work, shared the process by which she writes stories, and answered student questions about her art. Elisa visited as part of our Readathon week run-up two years ago, and like then she stuck around to sign and write individualized inscriptions on copies of her books for students.

The Middle School was not bereft of an author visit, either: long-time TBS parent Lillian Howan (two children are graduates, and the third is in 8th grade) read two of her stories and hosted and Q&A with students as well.

Finally, many many thanks to the parent volunteers - chiefly Jean Marstens, Brigitte Durell, and Chrisy Ponte, though others helped too - for pulling off the third annual TBS Book Swap today!