It's a good day when . . .

. . . Phil Bildner comes to visit and he's just as AWESOME as you anticipated. 

It's a great day when, one week later,

 you're still "high" from his visit!

Extremely Grainy Pic from Liberty Lady

I used to think, "Author visits, take em' or leave em'." Authors, I thought, share their craft and work ethic, but their words are often lost on young students. I witnessed many students (boys, mostly) tune out during an author talk.

Then we hosted Trenton Lee Stewart, Toni Buzzeo, and Patricia MacLachlan. All in one school year. GAME CHANGERS!

Students recently shared with me their love of this yearly event. One boy told me it's the highlight of his year. Who knew? (Not me, I'm the dope.) Obviously, I get bogged down by the planning and then hold my breath until presentations are made--meanwhile forgetting to ENJOY the visit.

Phil rocked our library world this year. Boys were cheering for books. Girls were cheering about writing. Teachers were cheering for Phil! Phil's energy is contagious and his message was clear: you CAN write, you SHOULD read, and BE yourself.

Image from TitlePeek

Image from TitlePeek

My favorite is the "Sluggers" series by both Phil and Loren Long. I suppose it took me by surprise. Expecting a "boy" book, I was taken instead on a family baseball journey that was written with warmth and humor. Suddenly, I was barnstorming with Griffith, Graham, and Ruby. Magically, I was holding that special baseball.

Image from TitlePeek

Be sure to check out Phil's books, they are the real deal. Know that author visits make an impact on students . . . and me too, if I slow down and listen.

Shoeless Joe

Phil Bildner will be visiting our school in one month. One of his books, Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy, inspired me to research Joe Jackson.

Image from Barnes & Noble

Joe played baseball in the early 1900's for the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Naps, and Chicago White Sox. He was suspended from baseball during the infamous Chicago White Sox scandal of 1919. Joe was later cleared of all charges, but never again allowed to play professional baseball.

Here is Phil giving a tour of the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum:

Want to complete a little research of your own? Tell me, who was BLACK BETSY?

Visiting Author

Image from Library Thing

Patricia MacLachlan is coming to visit us. She is the Newberry Award winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall and she is FAN-TAS-TIC. Big thanks to Boswell Books for sponsoring this visit.Her newest novel? The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm. Read to learn all about Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden before their travels as orphan children living on a train car.

WHO: Patricia MacLachlan

WHEN: October 3rd @ 11.15am