LA’s BEST Visit with Young Authors at Latona School, Los Angeles, CA

Last week on Tuesday I enjoyed an hour with a group of aspiring young authors in the LA’s BEST after school program at Latona Elementary School in Los Angeles, California. The students, kindergarten and first graders, responded enthusiastically to my presentation. I read to them from my books A Zebra’s World and Wiggle and Waggle and then they all had a chance to color their own versions of Wiggle and Waggle. I loved the variety of colors they used–from naturalistic to rainbow hues. At the end of the hour I read A Polar Bear’s World and the children acted out the story wearing polar bear masks. Soon they will be making their own books.

LA’s Best Author Visit at Coldwater Canyon School

Monkeys and Toucan in the Rain Forest

A week ago I had the chance to spend an hour with students in the LA’s Best Young Authors’ program at Coldwater Canyon School in Los Angeles. This after school program encourages young authors to develop their writing. I shared some of my books and what it is like to be an author and then asked the students to share some of their writing with me. I was impressed by their creativity. They were working on their own books about a person who was important in their lives. Many of them had chosen to write about their mothers, sisters, or other members of their families. They had also illustrated their books with drawings. At the end of the hour I read my new book A Day and Night in the Rain Forest while they colored their own rain forest pictures. It was a fun and productive afternoon!

Visit to Young Authors of LA’s Best

I recently had another successful visit with students in the LA’s Best Young Authors Program, this time at Maurice Sendak School in North Hollywood.  I was greeted with a colorful welcome poster made by the children in grades K-2 and could see that they clearly had enjoyed dipping their hands in bright paint to make the design.  I spoke first to the younger grades and shared with them A Zebra’s World, Wiggle and Waggle and Who Has More? Who Has Fewer?  Then, with the older children (grades 3-5) I presented my slides and talked about my life as a writer and how I get ideas.  As the children lined up to leave, I noticed that several of them were carrying musical instruments.  I am pleased to know that they are having so many opportunities to develop their talents and creativity.  Perhaps some of them will grow up to be writers or musicians someday!
My author visit to the LA's Best Young Authors Program was sponsored by California Readers.