When Gordon students begin reading books, they begin thinking about authors.

 

That's a connection their teachers are careful to make, reinforced every week by Gordon's librarian.

 

So when Gordon's Book Fair brings authors to campus, students are eager to connect.

 

Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie was on campus yesterday, talking with Young Kindergarten, Kindergarten, first and second grades about her Ezra Jack Keats award-winning book Layla's Happiness.

 

The students were happy to listen to her.

 

But they also wanted to talk.

 

She asked them about what made them happy.

 

They had come prepared with notes.

 

She asked them if they liked poetry.

 

They had come with poems of their own to read.

 

Wildcats make them happy, as well as their communities, their cats, their dogs, their outside time, their siblings, drawing and painting, cousins, and reading.

 

Also, chasing their brother around the basement.

 

When first and second graders write haikus, they are inspired by compost, friendship, robins, snowfall, Jedi, lightning storms, flowers, pets and the wisdom of trees.

 

Ms. Tallie listened carefully.

 

And she made sure they knew she was listening.

 

By the time the visit was over, the conversation had just begun.

 

She left with sheaves of haikus for her review.

 

And back in their classrooms, they continued to brainstorm about haikus and happiness.

 

And, in Young Kindergarten today, new books have already begun to appear.

 

More Book Fair magic...

Saturday, December 4th, 1:30pm
Black Boy Joy discussion
On the Early Childhood playground, no RSVP necessary
Marlon Henry, Angela Flynn and Frances Martindale will lead an informal discussion based on Black Boy Joy, an anthology of stories curated by Kwame Mbalia on the theme of Black boyhood. This will be an in-person, outdoor event, around a firepit if necessary! The conversation is open to all ages, whether or not they have read the entire book.

Wednesday, December 8th, 6:30pm
Kwame Mbalia and Eric Wilkerson 
in conversation with Head of School Noni Thomas López
Over Zoom, register at www.gordonschool.org/mbaliawilkerson
Author Kwame Mbalia and illustrator Eric Wilkerson will join Dr. Thomas López for a conversation on Black joy, African American representation in children’s books, and their respective creative paths. Guests are invited to submit questions in advance. Mbalia and Wilkerson are this year’s Karla Harry Visiting Author honorees. They are creative team behind the New York Times bestseller Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, which was awarded a Coretta Scott King Author Honor and CABA award.

Plus raffles, book sales and more, at bookfair.gordonschool.org