AUTHORS IN APRIL What in the world is Authors In April? 32 nd year of AIA – unique to Rochester community Week long event, bringing 4 renowned authors/illustrators to the Rochester community (3 elementary authors & 1 middle school author) Authors visit 15 elementary school – 6 middle schools & RHPL Sign over 10,000 books while here! April 20-24, 2015

District board – consists of librarians, staff from public & parochial schools, RHPL, community members - - all volunteers Selects authors Book procurement from publishers Handles logistics details Organizes community events like banquet, library signing & scavenger hunt Provides information to each school Each school has amazing, wonderful AIA chairs and media specialists to run program at their school AUTHORS IN APRIL

Yea for your AIA chairs!

AIA is FUN for the Students ILS reads to students & explores author websites Students are excited to read a book by an author they will meet! Reading Each classroom creates projects tailored to their selected books/themes Artwork is displayed throughout the school Art Projects Authors meet students in the media center for a presentation and Q & A Students have the honor of greeting, introducing and thanking author. Author Visit

Testimonials from Parents… My four kids look forward to AIA every year! My son had never read a chapter book by himself until he got excited about the AIA book the parents were reading to the students in his class. He asked to buy an AIA book and he read it cover to cover by the next morning! Then he asked for another! My daughter has loved this program for years and now she wants to be an author someday! In the yearbook, my son wrote his favorite school memory was introducing Sarah Weeks, the Authors In April for his grade. The only time my son reads books “for fun” is for Authors In April! He loves that he gets to see the “real live author”! My daughter can hardly wait to see what the author wrote or drew in her book with the autograph! My kid loves to create all the artwork that goes with the books! As a parent, I love to help with this program because I can see the incredible impact it makes on the kids!

So, who are this year’s Authors In April? (drum roll please)

2015 KG-1 st Author/Illustrator DANIEL KIRK

nd -3 rd Author LYNNE JONELL

th -5 th Author CHRIS GRABENSTEIN

Parental Involvement is Key Assist AIA chairs with things like bookmark contest, book club, celebrity reader event, teacher kick-off event… Special Activities Assist with setting up and staffing the various sales Book Sales Read the selected books in your child’s classroom Talking points will be included to facilitate discussions Classroom Reading Help decorate the school prior to the Author visit Hanging Artwork Help get your kids excited about their Author by reading at home Encourage Reading

Bringing children, books & authors together! If you are inspired to help with this awesome program, please sign-up !