Plum Creek Literacy Festival
October 13, 2009
Plum Creek Literacy Festival
by Mrs. Godtel
The Kindergarten through Third grade students enjoyed listening to
several stories read by the famous author of Chicka Chicka Boom
Boom, John Archambault. He demonstrated how using music could
increase reading fluency. His goal was to also inspire the students
to believe in the power of their imagination. John said many times
that “Books are magic, Books are fun, There’s a book for
everyone.”
David Biedrzycki, illustrator and author of the Ace Lacewing Bug
Detective stories, showed the students how he uses Photoshop and a
digital drawing pad to create his illustrations. Our elementary
libraries have an autographed copy of a family of beetles that he
drew during his demonstration.
The Fourth through Sixth grades first listened to Gordon Korman who
published his first book, This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall
at the age of 12. Gordon talked about how he develops his
characters for his books. He told the students to write about
something that excites them and that they know about.
John Erickson, author of the Hank the Cowdog stories, entertained
us by singing and playing the banjo. He read an excerpt from
#49--The Case of the Booby-Trapped Pickup and left us without
knowing what happens to Hank and Drover who are locked in Slim’s
brand new pickup as it is slowly heading for a cliff. -----The book
has been ordered so hopefully, we will be able to find out how Hank
and Drover get out of their predicament.
I would venture to say that the Festival was a success and enjoyed
by all. I can’t wait for next year!
