Two great guys that go well together...

Author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka and School Librarian Matthew Winner!

This is Jarrett during a recent Skype visit with my students.

Matthew interviews Jarrett for his Let's Get Busy podcast series. You must listen. It is further proof of the greatness of Jarrett Krosoczka, and by greatness I mean his authenticity, earnestness, knowledge, skill, passion, and humor.

You can follow this and the other amazing things Matthew does on his blog, The Busy Librarian.

Oh, and my students and I get a shout out at 48:00 minutes - because of this Skype visit:

The one where we visit with Jarrett Krosoczka

This week, my 3rd graders and I visited via Skype with author/illustrator, Jarrett Krosoczka.

Wait, let me rephrase that, yesterday, my 3rd graders had an fantastic, fun, and fabulous visit via Skype with Jarrett Krosoczka.

I say "fantastic, fun, and fabulous, but I should also add inspiring, important, and informative because I think it is important to share that not only are author visits (whether in person or virtual) fantastic, fun, and fabulous, they are also inspiring, important, and informative. Connecting with authors, in person or virtually, provides: valuable reading and writing inspiration; important connections to books and reading for all students; and, connections to the learning around reading and writing occurring in the classrooms.

It was fantastic, fun, and fabulous:

We watched a video where Jarrett talked about some of his early writing and showed his first book.  Never has the life of fruits and vegetables seemed so exciting and dangerous!

The students asked questions:

Jarrett drew 
Lunch Lady and Platypus Police Squad 
characters for us:

Jarrett gave us a preview of his upcoming books, including

Peanut Butter and Jellyfish!

It was inspiring, important, and informative:

"I was inspired to read more of his books 

and write more stories myself."

"He inspired me to draw still life pictures 

that someday might inspire a book."

"He inspired me to NEVER give up."

"He uses things from his real life in stories."

"He inspired me to look at things I have created in my past, illustrations and stories, and recycle them."

"He inspired me to keep writing 

so I can publish my stories one day."

"I learned how he builds his sketches 

using a blue pencil and scanner."

"He likes to write away from his studio and in a small, quiet place like a coffee shop, airplane, and library."

It was very cold the day of his virtual visit, so an indoor recess was mandatory. Many third graders were spotted creating Lunch Lady cartoons and gadgets along with their own graphic novel creations.

Cotton Candy Rope

stretchy/sticky/effective/sweet

I think this visit will have a long-lasting influence on these students' reading and writing lives.

Wondering who I should thank for this awesomeness...

This rocking Lunch Lady apron 

arrived in my school mailbox today.

My students LOVED it!

As you can see, 

I am planning on cooking up 

some great lessons!

Thank you!

WRAD-i-cal Celebration

"I'm on the top of the world 

looking around at my students 

and the only explanation I can find 

is the books that were read by the people who came around 

their reading put us at the top of the world."

On the top if World Read Aloud Day, that is...

World Read Aloud Day was a stupendous, phenomenal, fabulous, exciting, amazing day. Here's a peak:

~1~

We connected with @victortweets students in Germany

and read I WANT MY HAT BACK!
~2~

We connected with @mgohagon from Connecticut

and read DUCK! RABBIT!

~3~

I heard students reading aloud during browsing and borrowing.

~4~

 
We connected with @mrschureads from Illinois

 and read Messing Around on the Monkey Bars
~5~

 We decorated the World Read Aloud Day image

 We read aloud jokes to one another
~6~

 We connected with @curtislibrary1 in Texas
and read Messing Around on the Monkey Bars
~7~

The Superintendent stopped by to read to 5th and 3rd graders

 He then read poems for two voices with the Principal

 They read from You Read to Me, I'll Read to You

~8~
We connected with @micgreen in Wisconsin
and read I WANT MY HAT BACK

~9~

 We connected with @peterhreynolds in Massachusetts

 Peter H. Reynolds read his book, THE DOT, to us!

~10~

We connected with @Loveofxena in Michigan

and shared poems.
~11~

 We read poems for two voices to each other.
~12~

 We connected with @amedyckman in New Jersey

 Amy Dyckman read her book, BOY + BOT to us!

~13~

 We connected with @libaura5 in Minnesota 

and @studiojjk in Massachusetts

 Jarrett Krosozcka read his book BUBBLE BATH PIRATES! to us!

...and drew us an illustration!

While Tweeting and updating statuses on Facebook Wednesday night, I finally raised my white flag, I had run out of superlatives to describe what was one of the "most awesomnessest" days.  

"I'm on top of the world..."

Yup. Still am, three days later.  

Now, only 361 more days until we get to do it all over again!