GLENDALE – On Dec. 9 Glendale Elementary was visited by author Joseph Moore from Johnstown. Moore has authored two books, Maxwell the Raindrop: The Raindrop Who Wouldn’t Fall and Maxwell the Raindrop: Am I Still Me?
Moore read both books to the third grade students and each student was able to choose which book they wanted to keep. Each student then received a copy of their favorite book signed by Moore.
Moore also spoke about the writing process and how his stories began as bedtime stories for his own children, as well as how the illustrations were created to go along with his story pages.
He brought in story boards to demonstrate the illustration process and how they changed remarkably from the first draft to the final draft.
The visit was made possible by a grant from the Glendale Education Foundation. Kate Bacher, elementary principal, applied for the grant after she was contacted by Moore and made aware that he was willing to do school visits.
“The students were thrilled to meet a local author and to be able to ask him questions about the writing process and publishing children’s books. It was a great opportunity for our third grade students. We are very grateful to the Glendale Education Foundation for helping to make this happen,” said Bacher.
“Since the books were about a raindrop, we were also able to incorporate several STEM lessons about the water cycle and how raindrops form. Mrs. Renee McQuown, our STEM coordinator and enrichment instructor, was able to help create these science based lessons and implement them into the classrooms prior to the author visit.
“It was a great way to make the experience something that the students really learned from and will remember. Perhaps it will inspire one or more of our students to become an author someday.”
