Author Visits
Over the years, so many fabulous author and/or illustrators have paid a visit to Orchard School.
Ann Braden - March 2023
We were honored to host an author visit with Ann Braden. After enjoying a lunchtime discussion with a small group of students, Ann gave an inspiring presentation to all 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. They were reminded to find their power:
* The Power of Your Inner Strength
* The Power of Connection
* The Power of a Question.
Each of these powers related to one of Ann's books. We appreciated that Ann took the time to make a personal connection with each audience member. What a memorable visit!
For more images from Ann's time at Orchard School, please go to this Instagram page.
* The Power of Your Inner Strength
* The Power of Connection
* The Power of a Question.
Each of these powers related to one of Ann's books. We appreciated that Ann took the time to make a personal connection with each audience member. What a memorable visit!
For more images from Ann's time at Orchard School, please go to this Instagram page.
Alison James and Jennifer Mann - March 2023
First graders were delighted to meet author Alison James and illustrator Jennifer K. Mann. They read from their fabulous new book MAPLE & ROSEMARY. Following the reading, students were given a word on a small piece of paper. The task was to draw a tree showing the emotion on their paper. Can you find a sad tree, anxious tree and a grouchy tree?
For additional images, please go to this Instagram page.
For additional images, please go to this Instagram page.
Virtual Author Visits - February 2023
There were a couple of notable virtual author visits in February that weren't associated with the TEN World Read Aloud Day connections.
Kelly Yang - February 2023
What could be holding these fourth grade students spellbound? Well it's a virtual author visit with Kelly Yang! Kelly shared that she spoke no English at all when she arrived in the US at age 5 and, just like in FRONT DESK, her family ran a motel. She urged fourth & fifth grade students to Dream Big and Believe in Your Dreams. Kelly told us about some of her favorite books and then answered many audience questions. Thanks to Orchard School's PTO, very fourth and fifth grader will be receiving a copy of Kelly Yang's new book FINALLY SEEN after our Winter Break!! Instagram post is here.
To view videos and images of students thanking the PTO for their generous donation, please take a look at this Instagram post. |
Matthew Cordell - February 2023
What a fun virtual author visit classes had with Caldecott Medal winning author/illustrator Matthew Cordell today. He read his new book EVERGREEN, drew with the #students, and answered many questions. Many thanks to Flying Pig Books for organizing this fine event!
To view more images, take a look at this Instagram page.
To view more images, take a look at this Instagram page.
Jason Chin - March 2020
Award-winning author/illustrator Jason Chin spent the day with Orchard School students in March 2020. He began the day by giving a presentation during our whole school Morning Meeting. During this time, he shared how he became interested in drawing, and specifically illustrating books. Jason shared with us is soon-to-be-published book, YOUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE. It should be published in the fall of 2020 and looks amazing!
Following Morning Meeting, Jason met with 4th and 5th graders in the cafeteria. He spoke about his writing process, especially for his Caldecott Honor and Siebert Honor book GRAND CANYON.
Please click here to see more images and information from Jason Chin's visit to Orchard School in March 2020.
Kate Messner - December 2019We're delighted that Kate Messner came back to Orchard School in December 2019 to preview her newest book, CHIRP, which will be in bookstores in February 2020.
Below are some images from her latest visit with Orchard School 3rd through 5th graders. |
Kate Messner - June 2018
How fortunate we were to be a part of Kate Messner's book tour for BREAKOUT! She visited Orchard School on June 5th, 2018. Here are some tweets from the event:
Kate Messner - October 2017
We're SO lucky that Kate Messner only lives a quick ferry ride across Lake Champlain from us. She visited in October 2017 to talk to students about the writing process and her new book, THE EXACT LOCATION OF HOME. Below are some tweets sent out during Kate's time with us.
Jason Chin - February 2017
Orchard School is so fortunate that nationally recognized author/illustrator, Jason Chin as one of our parents. Jason spent the day with us during I Love to Read & Write Week. Please click here to view pictures and information from Jason's time at Orchard School.
Jennifer Nielsen - October 2016
Award-winning children's book author, Jennifer Nielsen, gave an inspiring presentation to fourth and fifth graders on October 25th. Ms. Nielsen's book, A NIGHT DIVIDED is currently one of the selections on Dorothy's List (formerly called DCF or Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award), Vermont's children's choice book award program for fourth through eighth graders. In addition to speaking about her fabulous books, Ms. Nielsen's presentation included background information about the history of the Berlin Wall, the setting for A NIGHT DIVIDED. Below are some pictures that were tweeted out from the event.
Kate Messner Visits During June 2016
Award winning children's author, Kate Messner, visited Orchard School for a special presentation for 3rd through 5th graders on June 8, 2016. Titled, "Beyond the Fairy Tale," Kate's presentation focused on research, planning, and revision in the writing process for THE SEVENTH WISH, a retelling of the classic magic wish tale :The Fisherman and His Wife. Below are some images from this fabulous event.
Kate Messner Visits During 2014-2015
We were fortunate to have Kate Messner visit Orchard School twice during the 2014-2015 school year.
On February 5th, Orchard School second through fifth grade students were treated to a visit by author Kate Messner as a part of a nation-wide tour for her new chapter book, All the Answers. In it, twelve-year-old Ava finds a pencil stashed in her family's junk drawer. She takes it to school and soon realizes that the pencil is actually speaking to her, supplying facts for questions she poses. The book is filled with dilemmas that Ava must face as she wonders about which situations she might choose to use her magic pencil and the consequences of her choices.
Kate Messner spoke with the Orchard School students about the writing process for her many books. She shared outlines and writing journals. Kate told the group that her writing journals are filled with collections of people's interesting names, ideas and words that she might use in a future story. Students laughed when Kate shared that her daughter advises her friends to be careful what they say around her mom because their words might be made public in a book yet to be written.
As Kate Messner writes in All the Answers, "You have to let go before you can reach." Kate surely challenged students to not only read more books, but to also venture boldly into putting their own thoughts on paper. Kate Messner's visit to Orchard School was a truly memorable event.
On February 5th, Orchard School second through fifth grade students were treated to a visit by author Kate Messner as a part of a nation-wide tour for her new chapter book, All the Answers. In it, twelve-year-old Ava finds a pencil stashed in her family's junk drawer. She takes it to school and soon realizes that the pencil is actually speaking to her, supplying facts for questions she poses. The book is filled with dilemmas that Ava must face as she wonders about which situations she might choose to use her magic pencil and the consequences of her choices.
Kate Messner spoke with the Orchard School students about the writing process for her many books. She shared outlines and writing journals. Kate told the group that her writing journals are filled with collections of people's interesting names, ideas and words that she might use in a future story. Students laughed when Kate shared that her daughter advises her friends to be careful what they say around her mom because their words might be made public in a book yet to be written.
As Kate Messner writes in All the Answers, "You have to let go before you can reach." Kate surely challenged students to not only read more books, but to also venture boldly into putting their own thoughts on paper. Kate Messner's visit to Orchard School was a truly memorable event.
Kate returned in June 2015 to speak with Orchard's youngest learners after the release of her books How to Read a Story and Ranger in Time. (Please click on an image below to view full size and move through a slide show.)
Michael Northrop
May 2015 was a busy one for special visits. Michael Northrop, author of the popular Tombquest books came.
Junie B. Jones Bus Tour
The Junie B. Jones Laugh Yourself Silly Bus Tour also came our way in May 2015.
Melissa Stewart - Author in Residence
Orchard School was delighted to host nonfiction author Melissa Stewart as the “author-in-residence” from May 12th through the 15th, 2014. Ms. Stewart has written over 180 books for children, mainly with a focus on science and the natural world. While at Orchard, Ms. Stewart presented kindergarten through third grade students informative programs based upon her award-winning “A Place for Animals” series. Ms. Stewart educated the children about the adaptations of frogs, bats and birds, and gave tips on how people can help the creatures around them survive in our ever-changing environment.
Fourth and fifth graders were enlightened as to how Ms. Stewart finds the right voice to bring her nonfiction writing to life. Students then practiced identifying voice and working it into their own piece of writing. They also heard the incredible story of how Ms. Stewart’s book, No Monkeys, No Chocolate came to be published after ten years and 56 revisions.
More information about Ms. Stewart's visit may be found on her web site.
Fourth and fifth graders were enlightened as to how Ms. Stewart finds the right voice to bring her nonfiction writing to life. Students then practiced identifying voice and working it into their own piece of writing. They also heard the incredible story of how Ms. Stewart’s book, No Monkeys, No Chocolate came to be published after ten years and 56 revisions.
More information about Ms. Stewart's visit may be found on her web site.
Jarrett Krosoczka
Excitement was definitely in the air when Jarrett Krosoczka visited Orchard School in January 2014. Students had been preparing for the visit for weeks by creating their own comics and/or superheroes, which adorned the halls of Orchard School. To this day, teachers in attendance say that Jarrett's presentation was probably the best that they have ever seen.
Here are a couple of Vine video links of either superhero drawings or comic creations that covered the halls of Orchard School for Jarrett Krosoczka's visit.
https://vine.co/v/MBQjd673Y77
https://vine.co/v/MBQ1pD3YAu0
Here are a couple of Vine video links of either superhero drawings or comic creations that covered the halls of Orchard School for Jarrett Krosoczka's visit.
https://vine.co/v/MBQjd673Y77
https://vine.co/v/MBQ1pD3YAu0