This year the Wheeler Community was so fortunate to welcome authors and illustrators Kazu Kibuishi and Rosemary Wells. Students in Nursery through Grades Seven enjoyed presentations last Friday, October 12th in order to celebrate Wheeler and the amazing reading community we have built. Rosemary Wells presented to students in the lower school in Grades Nursery through Three, and Kazu Kibuishi presented to a grand crowd of students in Grades Four through Seven as well as faculty, staff and administration.
Each author highlighted the hard work that is required to create books for children and shared their journey to becoming writers and illustrators. Rosemary Wells, who has been writing and illustrating picture books for the past forty years, shared unique art techniques and the story of how the beloved Max and Ruby characters came to be. I am sure Kazu Kibuishi had a few cringing teachers in his presentation as he shared his secret to holding a pencil when he draws. Students asked amazing questions. Many students wanted the inside scoop on the final book in the Amulet Series, Amulet 9.
The Celebration of Reading could not have been as amazing as it was without the help of the Parents Association and our two amazing volunteers, Wendy D'Amico and Magda Kryzstolik. Ms Strachan and I were also grateful to see many Wheeler students come to the Book Festival at Lincoln School to meet other authors and illustrators who were a part of the amazing celebration of children and books.