Author Aaron Reynolds enjoys writing books that excite young fans. He also likes meeting those readers.
Reynolds is one of many authors who are connecting with young readers and encouraging writing and reading by visiting schools.
“There’s nothing like creating energy and passion for reading and that’s what author visits do,” said Reynolds, whose books geared to young readers include “President Squid,” “Nerdy Birdy” and the Joey Fly, Private Eye graphic novel series.
Reynolds recently visited at LaGrange Highlands Elementary District 106 which, like many districts, is tapping authors to promote writing and reading among students.
Reynolds visits between 50 and 70 schools a year throughout the country. He said he dedicates six months a year to touring, which is an energizing experience for him and the students.
“To stand in front of hundreds of elementary kids, show them my passion for books through fun and dynamic presentations, and see that energy spread is exhilarating,” he said. “Librarians always tell me that excitement in the library is at an all-time high after my visits, especially among kids who typical don’t show much interest in books. That’s a powerful thing.”
District 106 superintendent Patricia Viniard said author visits are part of an overall goal to improve students’ writing and reading skills.
“We’re putting a significant focus on writing this year,” she said.
District 106 held Celebrating Writing in February, an event which Viniard said sought to joyfully engage every student in the writing process, have students interact with published authors and inspire them in regard to the power and potential of their own writing.
Students also learned about writing graphic novels and poetry, worked on developing a memorable character and wrote an alphabet book.
Other, schools have similar goals of enthusing students about writing.
“We have a long history of having children’s authors coming to read to students and to teach them about the craft of writing,” said Heidi Wennstrom, superintendent of Butler Elementary District 53 in Oak Brook.
More Top Picks Best E Readers For Seniors
She said when children learn about the process from the authors themselves they become not only better writers, but better readers.
“When we use literature as models, they learn about hook sentences, imagery — the kind of details that make readers really interested in a story. It helps them integrate those details into their own writing and recognize them in their reading,” Wennstrom said.
“We have a really nice network of educators and librarians that we work with,” said Angie Gaul, who works for Anderson’s Book Fair Company, which supplies books for school book fairs from an Aurora warehouse. It also is part of the company that operates Anderson’s Book Shop, which has locations in La Grange and Naperville.
Gaul said she scheduled 388 author visits at schools between September 2016 and May 2017. She is aware of another 159 visits that were scheduled either by the authors or by schools on their own. Six years ago when she started working for the company, she said Anderson’s scheduled about 60 author appearances at schools a year.
Pam Henry, a third-grade teacher at Monroe Elementary School in Hinsdale, said it was her students’ idea to invite an author to visit. They applied for and were awarded a $150 grant from the District 181 Foundation that paid for a visit by author Laurie Lawlor.
“We just fell in love with her Addie series,” said Henry. “We dreamed that she’d come and talk to us about her writing process and teach us about being good writers. and that’s what she did.”
The series tells the story of Addie and the Mills family and their life in the Dakota territory, where they face such challenges as a prairie fire and a blizzard.
“We were studying the prairie ecosystem and this series is about a family who crosses the Great Plains. It’s really descriptive with details (such as) living in a sod house,” Henry said.
Lawlor’s stories in the Addie series are based on her own family history, and research. Her website includes a section called curriculum connections which is geared to helping teachers construct meaningful units of study to meet state and national standards, the site states.
Henry said Lawlor talked to the students about the research she did for the Addie series. She also brought a manuscript of one of her books that was filled with post-it notes from her publisher with suggestions for revisions.
“She kept saying to the kids that you have to work hard and persevere, but it is worth it in the end,” Henry said.
Henry started teaching 15 years ago, and she thinks the approach to teaching writing has changed over the years.
“I think we have more of an emphasis of connecting kids to the author and to the process,” she said.
Sophia Molfese, a third-grader at Monroe, was thrilled to meet Lawlor.
“She came and we had a sign for her that we colored,” said Molfese. “She was really nice and she answered all of our questions.”
Molfese has been inspired to write, too.
“I like to write and I am writing a story about a girl,” she said.
That’s great news for authors like Reynolds, who hopes authors’ words, both written and verbal, will get kids excited about writing and reading, which are skills that are needed to succeed in other areas.
“Kids being passionate about books means everyone wins,” he said.
Twitter @triblocalam