Three noted leaders in juvenile literature will visit Sacramento County schools to raise awareness of youth literacy in the 2004-2005 school year, the Sacramento County Office of Education has announced.
The "Authors in the School" program, presented by the Sacramento County Office of Education and Capital Service Region CTAP (California Technology Assistance Program), will bring together authors, illustrators, students, and educators to explore connections between literacy and learning.
The authors and illustrators will visit local classrooms to read their works to students and share with them the excitement of reading and writing. "When they meet an author, children take a new interest in literature," said David W. Gordon, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools. "Students are inspired to create their own stories and books, as well as to read more." At-risk students at Sacramento County Probation Department facility campuses showed improved achievement in reading language arts when participating in a related County Office "visiting author" program called SAFARI (Students and Faculty All Reading Independently).
In addition to visiting local classrooms, authors and illustrators will participate in "meet the person behind the book" sessions open to the public. They will talk about the creative process, answer questions from children and adults, and sign autographs. Copies of their books will be available for purchase.
Public sessions include:
Marilyn Reynolds
Thursday, October 21, 2004, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Sacramento author Marilyn Reynolds will discuss her path from teaching to writing for a young adult audience. Her realistic, gripping, thought-provoking stories keep teens reading and asking for more. Marilyn's visits to schools have led her to write I Won't Read and You Can't Make Me for adults working with reluctant readers. A few titles of her books include Detour for Emmy, Too Soon for Jeff (which became an Emmy-nominated "after school" TV special), Baby Help, and If You Loved Me.
Bob Barner
Thursday February 17, 2005, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
The award-winning, versatile Bob Barner will share his diverse experiences in advertising, as helper to acclaimed cartoonist Al Capp with the Li'l Abner comic strip, and as a children's author and illustrator. Bob's striking illustrations use pen and ink, watercolor, and cut and torn paper, as well as dimensional materials. Among his works are Dem Bones, Fish Wish, Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!, To Everything Stars, Bug Safari, Parade Day and Walk the Dog.
Julie Downing
Thursday, April 21, 2005, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Julie Downing is an internationally published author and illustrator. She has written and/or illustrated many books for children, including Mozart Tonight, A Ride on the Red Mare's Back and The Firekeeper's Son. Her jewel-like watercolor illustrations appear in more than two dozen books.
Admission to each session is $10/person or $20/family. Reservations are recommended. Please call (916) 228-2353 to reserve seats. Public presentations will be held at the Sacramento County Office of Education's David P. Meaney Education Center: 10474 Mather Boulevard, on the former Mather Air Force Base in Rancho Cordova.