COLDSTREAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

AUTHOR VISIT

May 12/03

The rocking chair was brought in, the original pictures for the book set up on the table and chairs for Mom and I were arranged behind the table. Soon the first group of children were brought in. I’m impressed with how well behaved the children were as they filed in. They sat on the floor in neat rows, starting from the back of the library. As they wait for the other classes to be brought in, I watch their eyes, darting all around the room. They check out the rocking chair, then eyes dart over to the original pictures. There are a few nudges here and there and information is shared between friends.

Before long everyone is in place and it’s time to begin another author visit. Mr. Bob Outfield, Vice Principle/Librarian/teacher, welcomes the kids and after introductions are made he begins to read the story. I’m amazed every time I hear it read. Each time is different but always with such inflection that I wonder, what a great story! Who wrote that? Oh right, I did. At the end of the story there is a round of applause and the questions begin.

Along with the usual questions the kids always seem to come up with a question or two I haven’t heard. This time was no different.

"Are there any pictures in the book that you don’t like?" 

Good question. 

"Well the one that I didn’t like isn’t in the book, but it almost was," I answered. Then I went onto explain, "When the illustrator had the pictures ready for us to see, I noticed that one wasn’t quite right. It was this one," I said as I held up the picture. "You see, he had Kathy, leading Davey, out of the yard." 

Before I could go on a boy said, "That’s not what the story said." 

"That was exactly my point," I replied. "And when I mentioned this to him, he told us that it would be fixed. A new picture had to be drawn and as you can see this is the one that made it into the book." I ended by adding, "So I don’t have any pictures in this book that I don’t like."  This one question started me thinking, I could do something a little different at the next author visit. Hmm, would the kids notice? We’ll have to wait and see… 

Some question was raised about the rocking chair, "Is that the actual chair you rescued?" 

"Yes it is," I replied. There were oohs and ahhs. Then Mr. Oldfield pointed out the wire on the bottom of the chair. That’s when mom jumped up and snapped a picture of him holding the chair on his lap as he showed it to the children.  He also pointed out that if you looked real close you could see little specs of white paint. 

"Ya, I thought the chair was white," one boy inquired. 

"It was when we found it," I told him.  From there we discussed how the chair came to be varnished now instead of being white.  Before I knew it another author visit was coming to close. There were a few more quick questions squeezed in. Then it was time to hand out the bookmarks I had made for the children and say one last thank-you to all the teachers, Sonja Wilcox, Valerie Salmon, Holly Smith and Rita Gilbert from grades two and three. From Kindergarten through grade two, there was Heather Klassen, Janet Townsend and Lynda Henney and we can not forget Mona Walters, a teacher’s aid.   And I’d like to say a special thanks to Mr. Bob Oldfield for being a great host and making it a wonderful afternoon. We’re looking forward to attending the Book Fair May 20th. See you all then!

P. S.
The Book Fair was a lot of fun. Along with seeing some of the children again, we also met some of the parents. It was truly a pleasure to meet you all!
Again I’d like to thank Mr. Oldfield, you really know how to make a person feel special!
Keep reading kids and be well! J

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