PORT BYRON - All it took was a stuffed chimpanzee and an axle from a Barbie car to get elementary school students from AA Gates Elementary School to giggle in excitement.
After a year of anticipation, the elementary school in the Port Byron Central School District Friday held its annual “Author Day,” featuring a children's book illustrator, the SPCA, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and children's book author Robin Pulver.
Pulver, who wrote the books “Axle Annie” and “Author Day for Room 3T,” among others, spoke to students about how she got the ideas for each of her books.
She received her inspiration for “Author Day in Room 3T” while speaking to a class about what it's like to be an author. She created in her mind, and eventually on paper, the story of mistaken identity when students mistakenly believed the author who was going to speak to them was, in fact, a chimpanzee.
As for “Axle Annie,” it all started after seeing a photo of Axl Rose on the cover of Spin Magazine.
The elementary school hosts “Author Day” every year to reinforce literacy and the importance of reading books.
“It is just a way to get kids to want to read more and get them excited about reading books,” Principal Mitch Toleson said.
And that is exactly the point Pulver wanted to get across to students.
“Teachers tell me that if (students) meet the author, it really reinforces the importance of reading,” she said.
Animals play an important role in several of Pulver's books, so the school brought in the SPCA and Rosamond Gifford Zoo from Syracuse to give students the opportunity to see animals close up and raise awareness for proper pet care.
Olivia Leonti, 9, of Port Byron and Rose Verdi, 8, of Montezuma, got to pet a dog and cat - animals that were abandoned by their owners- - brought in by the SPCA.
“It was cool,” Verdi said, “because normally you don't get to have dogs and cats in school.”
Students also raised $257 through a coin drive for the SPCA.
For 8-year-old Ben York, of Port Byron, there was nothing like seeing animals normally found in a zoo close up.
“I don't get to see animals all the time,” he said after a presentation from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. “I haven't been to the zoo very much and I wanted to see them again.”
And if students wanted to know how books get their illustrations, all they needed to do was watch children's book illustrator Erin Sherman in action.
With a purple marker, she drew a small striped cat on an easel.
“This is just a cat, but if I add something to the picture, it becomes an illustration,” she said.
She picked up her marker and drew an overturned carton of milk with paw prints traipsing away.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
Pulver, who wrote the books “Axle Annie” and “Author Day for Room 3T,” among others, spoke to students about how she got the ideas for each of her books.
She received her inspiration for “Author Day in Room 3T” while speaking to a class about what it's like to be an author. She created in her mind, and eventually on paper, the story of mistaken identity when students mistakenly believed the author who was going to speak to them was, in fact, a chimpanzee.
As for “Axle Annie,” it all started after seeing a photo of Axl Rose on the cover of Spin Magazine.
The elementary school hosts “Author Day” every year to reinforce literacy and the importance of reading books.
“It is just a way to get kids to want to read more and get them excited about reading books,” Principal Mitch Toleson said.
And that is exactly the point Pulver wanted to get across to students.
“Teachers tell me that if (students) meet the author, it really reinforces the importance of reading,” she said.
Animals play an important role in several of Pulver's books, so the school brought in the SPCA and Rosamond Gifford Zoo from Syracuse to give students the opportunity to see animals close up and raise awareness for proper pet care.
Olivia Leonti, 9, of Port Byron and Rose Verdi, 8, of Montezuma, got to pet a dog and cat - animals that were abandoned by their owners- - brought in by the SPCA.
“It was cool,” Verdi said, “because normally you don't get to have dogs and cats in school.”
Students also raised $257 through a coin drive for the SPCA.
For 8-year-old Ben York, of Port Byron, there was nothing like seeing animals normally found in a zoo close up.
“I don't get to see animals all the time,” he said after a presentation from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. “I haven't been to the zoo very much and I wanted to see them again.”
And if students wanted to know how books get their illustrations, all they needed to do was watch children's book illustrator Erin Sherman in action.
With a purple marker, she drew a small striped cat on an easel.
“This is just a cat, but if I add something to the picture, it becomes an illustration,” she said.
She picked up her marker and drew an overturned carton of milk with paw prints traipsing away.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.