Each day, approximately 130 students will have an opportunity to listen to four presentations and then spend 15 minutes asking questions and interacting with the authors while seated on carpets in small groups. At a music signal, they will rotate on to the next author.
Participating authors and illustrators include James Burks, Sara Louise Kras, Sharon Lovejoy, and Sherri L. Smith.
The day is further highlighted with colorful carousel decorations and activities with prizes. Each day, one student will be chosen as best overall winner in the four activities categories, and will receive a custom-made T-shirt commemorating the event and signed by the four authors and illustrators.
Students who participate will meet authors of books written specifically for young people, explore avenues of creative writing and illustrating with successful people in the field of literature, and read and discuss in-depth literary works by well-known authors.
Participating districts include Ballard, Blochman, Buellton, Carpinteria, College, Cuyama, Goleta, Guadalupe, Hope, Lompoc, Los Olivos, Montecito, Orcutt, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Solvang, and Vista del Mar.
“This annual event pays tribute to the reading and writing of children’s literature,” County Superintendent of Schools William J. Cirone, whose office coordinates the annual event, said in a statement. “The students come away with a sense that they have been involved with a real ‘literary happening.’”
This article appears in Jan 21-28, 2016.