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Hundreds of students in grades K-5 got to hear Chris present, and K-2 students received their very own copy of If I Built a House, lining up eagerly for a chance to have a real live author sign their books.  During this tour Downeast, close to 250 books were given away!  What’s more, the wonderful activities and work that classrooms were busy with in preparation for Chris’ visit were displayed and every student got a chance to share their own dream houses with us.

One of our very favorite times has got to be the moment just after all students receive their copies of the book.  To watch all the children pore over the pages, giggling and pointing, talking with their neighbors, is what this organization prizes most: the LOVE of reading and the power of story!  One second grade boy from Lubec, clutched his book to his chest and exclaimed, “I’m going to keep this my whole entire life!”  Another little girl from Machias was wide eyed, asking again and again, “You mean this is for me?  I get to keep this and take it home with me…to my house?”

Ladybug Girl telling Chris about her dream house.

Look who we spied in Jonesport: Mr. McGee, just back from a camping spree!

You know how they say, “Shock and awe”?  Well, we’re into “Giggles and wonder”

A wonderful audience at Jonesport.

Machiasport kids crowd in for a closer look.

A creative Machias student’s ‘turtle home’

Poring over their new books in Machias.

Getting up close and personal at Lubec.

A HUGE crowd at Rose M. Gaffney School!

As usual, Chris was highly entertaining:

After sharing his book and answering questions, Chris met with Kindergarten through third grade in the library for their own personal book signing.

As each student came up to meet with Chris, they shared which of Jack’s rooms was their favorite.  The overall winner had to be the fish tank room, but there were some votes for his sky high bedroom, the living room equipped with trampolines and ball pit, the kitchen-o-mat, race track room, and of course the hands free bathroom!

It was another fun-filled marvel of a day!  Thanks to Ms. Guilford and the staff of Deer Isle-Stonington School, and a very special thanks to our Board chair, Sallie Findlay, for coming!

Chris Van Dusen, hero to children and parents alike, had an enthusiastic greeting at Pemetic Elementary School in Southwest Harbor on a chilly December 1st Saturday morning.  Chris quipped to the crowd of over 100 people that he could think of a lot of better things to do on a Saturday than come see himself, but the crowd couldn’t have disagreed more!  The audience was captivated by his reading of newly released If I Built a House and the sharing of artwork from his children’s books and graphics for things like the L. L. Bean catalog and the Maine lobster license plate.

After Chris did his presentation, it was time for the students to share their house designs, displayed along the edges of the stage.  They came up with so many innovative ideas, with slides, trap doors, lofts and fire places that I see a lot of Mount Desert Island architects in our future!

Chris also took time to personally sign copies of his many books…and it wasn’t just the little ones who were excited!  Everyone was thrilled to get a chance to meet Chris and tell him how much they love his work.  Thanks to Pemetic School, staff, and kids for hosting us!

Next up on our tour was the Northeast Harbor Public Library…with another large, enthusiastic crowd!  We certainly saw the love for Chris and his wonderful books in the excited shouts from the kids (and adults) in the front row!

The Mellon Room was such a cozy, welcoming environment to enjoy Chris’ presentation, and his books!

IRW is so happy to bring these sorts of events to our community at large.  In fact, we couldn’t be happier at the turnout for the day, the support from folks like Eileen at Northeast Harbor Library, and Carol at Pemetic Elementary…and the fantastic group of kids and adults who came out to meet and listen to Chris!

When we arrived at the dock there were islanders greeting friends and helpers everywhere. While only 26 degrees, we wanted to walk to the school, so when artist Henry Isaacs offered to transport our gear in his truck to the school we instantly accepted.

When we reached the school we were enthusiastically welcomed by several children and by teachers Lindsay Eysnogle and Donna Isaacs. It was lunchtime so we joined right in, picnicking and chatting away!  We had a little time before Chris’ presentation so while the students enjoyed recess and their ‘Drop Everything and Read’ time, we toured several new and innovative building sites on the island. The houses were fantastic, imaginative, functional and unusual too!  Jack would approve! The builders and our tour guide Gail told us that one of the structures was to be built in the shape of a spiral, imagine!

When we returned to the school we found a room filled with homeschool children, parents, community members, and of course students, all eager to hear Chris read his new book “If I Built a House.”  After his presentation several students shared their house designs.  Each volunteer presented a layout of his/her house and explained its’ many featured.  We also saw a fantastic exhibit that included houses of all kinds, colors and designs with incredibly imaginative features created by the students!  They were awesome!

Chris then signed a copy of his book (given by IRW to each child) and had time to talk individually with each of the young architects.  It was a grand day!  Thank you students and teachers of the Ashley Bryan School for making it so!

As we walked to the boat we had another treat.  We stopped in the post office and general store to say hello to Joy Sprague.  After introductions and realizing that Chris lived in Camden.  Joy recited a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay.  She was amazing!

The sun was setting as we went to catch the 4:00pm boat to Northeast Harbor!  It was an incredible day!

What a welcome we received when we brought Cynthia Lord to Milbridge Elementary School on November 13th!

There were signs, posters, bulletin boards, and even a real live hamster named Hot Rod, in honor of Cynthia’s Hot Rod Hamster books.  The kids were attentive and excited, asking questions, sharing their thoughts about Cynthia’s work, and overall being excellent listeners.

Cynthia started by presenting to the younger students, who came in multi-aged groups, in the gym around the topics of the writing process, inspiration, and Hot Rod Hamster.  The kids were all aflutter about their stickers and signed copies, as well as their chance to get up close and personal with a “real life, famous author!”  They had an even bigger surprise when Cynthia unveiled her special gift: a hot rod for their hamster!  We couldn’t agree more with one little girl who exclaimed, “I can’t get enough of this day!”

In the afternoon, Cynthia worked with the 6th-8th graders around Touch Blue, her novel set on an island off the coast of Maine.  The students of Milbridge were particularly connected to the story because many of them make their living the way the main characters from the book do: lobsterfishing.  In fact, the students got together and had their own lobster feast in honor of the book!  Now that’s a mouth-watering salute we can really dig our teeth into!

Cynthia ended the day with an extra visit to several classrooms for additional question and answer time.  Another chance for us to visit, and to bond with Hot Rod, the hamster!  What a memorable day for all involved!

White caps and crashing waves made Wednesday’s boat ride to North Haven an adventure!  This was the second stop for Chris Van Dusen as he makes his way to several island schools this month and next. The day was memorable from beginning to end!

Kate Quinn, school and public librarian – boy does she know books, was there to meet us and to kick-start the day.  She escorted us to The Waterman Center to meet with a talented group of pre-k architects. They had made a huge house out of boxes and painted it too!  The walls exhibited paintings of houses dreamed up by the kids and cutout shapes to aid in their house designs.  There were descriptions of their homes and pictures of their families too!  We had a terrific time!

Our thanks to all students pr-k-4 grades for hosting us, treating us to a fabulous lunch (part of the garden to table program) and especially for sharing pictures and descriptions of some awesome houses!  Jack’s house was pretty neat too!

We heard over and over how much the kids loved the “Circus Ship” and all of Chris’ wonderful books. We even were treated to a choral reading of “Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee” by grades 3-4.  And throughout the day as each page of “If I Built a House” was turned and a new room revealed, we heard squeals of excitement and proclamations of “I want to live in a house just like that!”  What could be better!

Next stop The Ashley Bryan School on Islesford, Little Cranberry Island. We can’t wait!

The students and faculty at Jonesport Elementary School had a door open to poetry like never before!  On November 5th, Paul Janeczko presented on poetry forms to the entire preK-8 student body, sharing the humor and creativity that poetry can offer.  The kids and teachers alike were giggling away at silly senryus and over-the-top acrostics.

 After the large assembly, there were breakout classroom sessions with 3rd-6th grade.  Paul is no stranger to classroom visits, though…with 22 years of teaching English in his resume, he certainly brought the kind of engaging discussions and great mix of hilarity and learning that made everyone wish he was there to stay.  Our warm thanks to Danielle Fagonde and the entire staff at JES, and Paul Janeczko for his warmth, skill and overall good cheer.

Bangor Daily News, November 1, 2012, By Mel Rice

Students in Jonesport are about to get “A Kick In The Head” — and that’s a good thing!

“We’re very very excited,” says Jonesport Elementary School principal Danielle Fagonde.

Award-winning Maine writer Paul Janeczko will visit the school on Monday, Nov. 5, and all students in third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades there will get their very own copy of his book “A Kick In The Head: An Everyday Guide To Poetic Forms,” courtesy of Island Readers & Writers (IRW), which is sponsoring the visit.

“Writing is definitely a major focus of ours,” says Fagonde. “Our school kids really haven’t had too many opportunities to meet real life authors, so this is wonderful.” Janeczko, a former English teacher, will conduct writing workshops for third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders at Jonesport Elementary, along with a presentation for the entire school.

In “A Kick In The Head,” he offers examples of 29 poetic forms, demonstrating not only the (sometimes bendable) rules of poetry, but also the spirit that brings these forms to life.

The book was named one of the best children’s books of the year by Publishers Weekly and the School Library Journal, and won the Parents’ Choice Awards Gold Award. The New York Times called it “wonderfully engaging, and delightful for browsing or serious study,” and in a starred review, Publisher’s Weekly called it “a joyful poetry lesson.”

Janeczko is the author of more than 40 books including poetry, fiction, nonfiction and anthologies for children, as well as books for teachers. His volumes of poetry “Worlds Afire” and “Brickyard Summer” each was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

He says, “You never know what’s going to happen once you put that pen to paper. That’s one of the great things about writing. The surprise of it.”

Last year, he worked with students at Pemetic Elementary in Southwest Harbor.

“His warmness embraced my students and they fell in love with poetry in return,”

said teacher Carol Null.

Jonesport has been chosen as an “inland island” by IRW, a Maine nonprofit dedicated to inspiring a passion for reading in children from Maine’s islands. This visit is the first of many IRW plans to share with the children of Jonesport.

“We’re so thankful, and we couldn’t be more excited,” Fagonde said.