This fall, IRW led a book-based Literary Links to Science program called Extreme Survivors, focused on Kimberly Ridley’s latest book, Extreme Survivors: Animals that Time Forgot. Four schools in Washington County learned about ten creatures that have withstood eons of challenges, and how many of the challenges they faced (such as ice ages) were evident in the landscape […]

This fall, IRW led a book-based Literary Links to Science program called Extreme Survivors, focused on Kimberly Ridley’s latest book, Extreme Survivors: Animals that Time Forgot. Four schools in Washington County learned about ten creatures that have withstood eons of challenges, and how many of the challenges they faced (such as ice ages) were evident in the landscape […]

What “ordinary thing” can turn into something extraordinary? How do you find your way home? What do the knitted symbols on mittens mean to the people who wear them? These and other questions were a part of the conversation when Robin Orm Hansen, master knitter and author, visited Pembroke Elementary, Charlotte Elementary, and Beatrice Rafferty […]

Kimberly Ridley‘s latest book, Extreme Survivors: Animals That Time Forgot, is the focus of a program students at four Washington County students have been participating in since earlier this fall. First, they ventured out on a field trip with their teachers and IRW staff to learn about ice ages and explore traces and indications of glacial movements […]

Once again Milbridge helped IRW to launch an exciting point in IRW history as we brought on author Megan Frazer Blakemore for the first time to our talented author roster. Pictured above, Principal Maria White stands with Megan and her book, The Water Castle, which Maria will add to the trophy case in the school’s lobby, […]

Great and creative minds think alike, and so the diorama at Edmunds greeting Elizabeth Atkinson in the school lobby was a reminder of the great art talent in Washington County that brings stories to life. Art teacher Sarah Myrick had worked with students to recreate The Island of Beyond — complete with water raft, tree house, […]

A welcome sign out front and a diorama of the setting for the book The Island of Beyond greeted Elizabeth Atkinson and IRW program director Ruth Feldman as they entered Charlotte Elementary School on October 23. During a full school presentation, Elizabeth shared her “spark” for the book and talked about how Maine is her “heart home” […]

“Who here has ever been new? Who here has ever felt uncomfortable? How do we welcome someone new to our school, our community?” These are all questions that Anne Sibley O’Brien asks students after she introduces herself in Korean. Using her story as an American growing up in Korea in the 1960’s and 70’s, and […]

All 120 seventh graders from seven Mount Desert Regional School System (MDIRSS) schools came together Oct. 20 for Island Readers & Writers’s 7th Grade Read. Students from Connors Emerson in Bar Harbor, Pemetic Elementary in Southwest Harbor, Mount Desert Elementary in Northeast Harbor, Trenton Elementary, Tremont Elementary, Swan’s Island, and Cranberry Isles converged at Camp […]

IRW and Lauren Wolk, author of Wolf Hollow (Newbery Honor), visited students in Grades 5 – 8 at Jonesport Elementary School in October. The 7th/8th grade ELA teacher Marcia McDavid read the book with students before Lauren’s visit, and challenged her students to create scenes and characters from the book out of clay. They were […]