Children and parents laughed, cried and celebrated books and authors at New Britton Elementary. As part of a week of activities, books and authors were the focus of teaching and learning. Students shared Young Authors books throughout the week in recognition of their completion after months of work as they imagined, wrote, edited and rewrote these original works of fiction.
Children’s author Jim Aylesworth was the finale of the week-long celebration. According to Principal Michael Zahm, “He was like a rock star singing old favorites to a receptive crowd as he showed off his books.”
Students cheered and clapped as he introduced and gave the background behind some of his most popular books including Old Black Fly, The Burger and the Hot Dog, The Gingerbread Man and Naughty Little Monkeys.
An evening event highlighted the children’s work as well as a book fair where children could stock up for summer reading with a buy-one-get-one-free special, parent information sessions and the Hamilton Southeastern’s Library Information Booth. Aylesworth returned with a program for both students and parents.
Aylesworth was a first grade teacher for over 20 years and often used his students as inspiration for his books. He encouraged New Britton students to continue to write as he shared how he was able to publish 30 books and the disappointment of having one of his ideas for a book cancelled before publication. Despite the setback, Aylesworth continued to imagine, dream and successfully publish more books.
