(November 6, 2024) In October, students across three Rochester City School District schools were treated to an exciting literary experience as they participated in Festival to Go, a unique event that brought renowned authors and illustrators into their classrooms.
Held at Virgil I. Grissom School No. 7, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School No. 9, and Mary McLeod Bethune School No. 45, Festival-to-Go was a celebration of literacy where students engaged with approximately 12 renowned authors and illustrators. These special events brought the world of literature to life for students in grades K – 6, allowing them to learn directly from the creators of books.
For fifteen years, local author Vivan Vande Velde has coordinated Festival to Go, an opportunity for students who might not otherwise have access to books to experience a more personal and hands-on connection with authors and illustrators. At each participating school, authors and illustrators spent time with students, explaining their creative processes and the inspirations behind their work.
This year’s event featured 35 authors and illustrators, including Julie Berry, Kevin Kurtz, and Yuko Jones. Berry is the author of The Night Frolic, an imaginative story that transports readers on a mythical adventure to the top of the world and back. Kurtz is the author of Day in the Deep, a story that teaches children about life in the ocean. Jones, an illustrator, shared her process of turning written words into a finished picture book. She also showed her soon-to-be-released book, Perfect.
To cap off the experiences, each student received a personalized and autographed book, creating a lasting memory. Please join us in thanking these gifted authors and illustrators for sharing their talents with students from the RCSD.
