Middle Grade Authors, Books, & You!

Middle Grade Authors, Books, & You!
Connecting Middle Grade Fiction and the Writing Process to Meet New Learning Standards

FREE Professional Development Event for Educators, Librarians, and Homeschooling Parents
Join us for a special program bringing together five of Ohio’s Best Middle Grade (grades 4-7) authors.

When: Saturday, September 10th
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Where: Parma-Snow Branch
2121 Snow Road, Parma 44134

Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance that may be used toward professional development hours.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED. SEE BELOW.

Program Schedule

9:00 a.m. – Library opens. Doors to event open.

9:30 – 9:45 a.m. – Welcome

9:45-11:15 a.m. – Five Award-Winning Middle Grade Authors, Ten Great Books for Your Classroom
Moderated by Youngstown State University professor Rebecca Barnhouse, the author panel will share the ideas, inspiration, and classroom connections for their selected books.

Megan Whalen Turner

New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Honor Award winner for The Thief.
Featuring: The Thief (fantasy) and Instead of Three Wishes (short stories).

Angela Johnson

2003 MacArthur Fellow and author of more than 40 children’s books of poetry and fiction, including three Coretta Scott King award winners.
Featuring: All Different Now (historical fiction) and Bird (realistic fiction)

Michelle Houts

International Children’s Book Award winner for The Beef Princess of Practical County and a middle grade blogger. Featuring: Kammie on First: Baseball’s Dottie Kamenshek (biography) and Winterfrost (fantasy).

Tricia Springstubb

Author of Best of the Year selection What Happened on Fox Street and a Plain Dealer book critic.
Featuring: Moonpenny Island and Every Single Second (realistic fiction).

Shelley Pearsall

Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction and a former middle grade teacher.
Featuring: All of the Above (realistic fiction) and The Seventh Most Important Thing (historical fiction).
11:15-11:35 a.m. – Break
Enjoy refreshments and connect with other librarians and teachers.

11:35 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. – Unlocking the Writing Process
Authors will give a special behind-the-scenes look at their writing process including brainstorming, research, and revision through visuals and examples you can share with your classroom. Get a sneak peek at some new book projects in the works.

12:35-12:50 p.m. – Door Prize Drawings
We’ll draw names of winning educators to receive autographed books and free classroom visits or Skype visits from some of the authors.

12:50-1:30 p.m. – Book Signing
Book sale provided courtesy of Mac’s Backs – Books on Coventry.

To register, click here.