Author and Photographer Nic Bishop to visit
six District 65 schools in April 2012!

April 23rd - Bessie Rhodes
April 24th - Willard
April 25th - Lincolnwood
April 26th - Orrington
April 27th - Haven and Kingsley

Nic Bishop will attend Author Night at the Evanston Public Library on April 24th - all are welcome to attend!

Join us for a special showing of student art created in response to Nic Bishop's work and visit on Wednesday, May 16th from 5 - 7 pm at the Evanston Ecology Center. 

Learn more about Nic Bishop.

The Family Author Experience creates a shared family, school-wide and community experience through an author visit. By reading works from the same author and participating in related school-based activities, the entire school community is united in a unique experience of inquiry and creativity.   The program brings to the district’s schools an author that appeals to a large spectrum of students’ ages, backgrounds, and interests.  In this way, the reading becomes meaningful and relevant to the children’s lives. 

Through each school’s library and classrooms, students read and become familiar with selected, grade-appropriate books of the selected author. Students use arts, theater, music, writing and technology to explore literature.  Activities are coordinated by classroom teachers and the librarian at each school.  

Families with children in both elementary and middle school are able to discuss the author visit and books, as well as come together at a culminating event/open house to  view student work, presentations and activities that resulted from the author visit. 

The program, in its first year was hosted at Nichols, Dewey, Lincoln, Washington and King Lab in 2009-2010 with author Jack Gantos.  In 2010-2011, poet and author Nikki Grimes visited Chute, Dawes, Oakton and Walker.  In 2011-2012, Haven, Kingsley, Lincolnwood, Orrington, Willard and Bessie Rhodes will host the program featuring author and photographer Nic Bishop.

Jack Gantos was awarded the John Newbery Medal 2012 for his book Dead End in Norvelt!!

Nikki Grimes, award winning poet and author blogged about her visit in 2011!  Check it out!