More Book Festival Fun!

One of my 4th graders got her book signed by Jeff Kinney!

Last weekend was the fantastic Rhode Island Festival of Children's Books and Authors at Lincoln School in Providence.  I look forward to this incredible event all year!  As always, I'm happy to offer you a glimpse of just some of the fun this day had to offer!

The very first event of the day was a presentation by Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney.  He talked about the process he follows when writing a book and what the experience is like for him.  It was really exciting to see a page from his idea sketch book.  The words and pictures were so tiny!  He tried to fit as many thoughts as possible onto each page.  He explained that he has since switched to using a computer program so he wouldn't have to worry about losing his notebook!  [If you click on either picture below, you can view a larger version!]

Jeff admitted that it can be really hard for him to concentrate while working.  Here are some of the pictures he shared to prove it:

Covering himself in a blanket helps him focus (and provides an excellent opportunity to nap or avoid housework).

It's hard staying inside to work on a sunny day!

The most surprising thing I learned from his presentation is that he uses a computer program to create his illustrations.  He draws on an over-sized tablet and then adjusts the lines as needed.  Check it out:

One small part of a very, very long line!

As soon as his presentation was over, I rushed to get into line to have one of the library's copies of his book signed.  It was the longest line to meet an author that I have ever seen.  It spilled out of the gym, wound down the hall and around the perimeter of the cafeteria, went out the door, down the stairs, and along the sidewalk outside!  I stayed for as long as I could, but I didn't want to miss Jon Scieszka's presentation so I bowed out.  (I did get back into the line after that and was one of the last to meet him before he left -- woohoo!)

Jon Scieszka and his five brothers

As I expected, Jon Scieszka's presentation was extremely entertaining.  He is a remarkable storyteller and recounted many of his own life experiences in the process of answering some commonly asked questions.  For example:

When did you do your first book?

Where do you get your ideas?

Why did you become a writer?

  
What kind of car do you drive?

 As always, a heart-felt and enormous thank you to the amazing Meagan Lenihan of Lincoln School for organizing this event every year.  It is so thrilling to see people coming together to celebrate the joy of books!

The "Rooster" Books Have Flown the Coop!

Just a few of the fourth graders who signed out a "Rooster" book today!

I've begun promoting the nominees for the 2015 Rhode Island Children's Book Award to our fourth graders, and I am so excited about all the wonderful choices!  Once again I am challenging them to read at least five of the nominees.  All of the students who do will be allowed to participate in the Rooster Games at the end of the school year!  (Click here to learn more about the games!) 

The nickname "Rooster" comes from the award sticker that is placed on the winning book; it features an illustration of our state bird, the Rhode Island Red!

These students are ready for the long weekend with "Rooster" books at the ready!

One of the ways I've encouraged the students to check out these books is by showing them "book trailers".  These short presentations are like the movie trailers you see at a theater, but these commercials are intended to entice their viewers to read!  There are lots of them available online.  Here are a few of my favorites -- click on the book's title to launch the video:

Charlie Bumpers vs. the Teacher of the Year

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Rump

Doll Bones 

(warning: it's a very creepy trailer for a very creepy book!)

While there are lots of book trailers available online, not every story has one.  I've attended a couple professional development workshops about creating book trailers, and this year I finally made a few of my own to promote some of the "Rooster Books".

One of the books, Gone Fishing, is a story told in poetry.  I wrote a script that included one of the poems and then found some willing performers. Click here to watch the trailer for Gone Fishing!

Quiet on the set!  Estelle, Mr. Bresciano, and Joseph bring the story Gone Fishing to life as I record their voices using my iPhone!

I made another book trailer for Kelsey Green: Reading Queen using a fun, free online site called PowToons.  Click here to watch my book trailer for Kelsey Green!

Every fourth grade student was given a red book mark with the list of books printed on it.  They are encouraged to read as many as they can!  Our library owns at least one copy of each book, but they don't have to borrow the book from the school for it to count.  Rather than waiting for their turn on the "hold" list, the students can visit one of the public libraries, borrow a book from a friend/teacher/sibling, or even buy a personal copy. (Many of the students did this at last week's Scholastic Book Fair!) 

It doesn't matter how they get their hands on the book...

what matters is that they're reading!