Submitted by Rachel Brainin
The Lower School ushered in Black History Month and World Read-Aloud Day by welcoming prolific author Andrea Davis Pinkney to the Lower School.
Ms. Pinkney captured the attention of the students at the start of each of her three presentations with a meditation, asking the students to close their eyes and imagine a light that shines on something that makes them happy. When the students opened their eyes, they contentedly watched and listened as Ms. Pinkney regaled them with songs and stories of her craft, including how she finds inspiration and her writing process. She explained that as a writer of nonfiction, it is important to research her topics down to the finest of details. Ms. Pinkney also explained to the students how her husband, illustrator Brian Pinkney, creates elaborate and historically accurate paintings for her books and those of other authors. As the students viewed pictures from each of her books, she asked them to notice details and to determine why the illustrator made the decisions he did.
As the children’s gaze followed the dynamic and energetic author around the room, Ms. Pinkney engaged them with a question related to her book, Sit In: How Four Friends Stood up by Sitting Down, “What would you do if you saw someone who was not being served food in a restaurant because they were different?” Children answered that they would speak up, share their food, refuse to eat until everyone was served, or leave without paying. She shared with them a photo of her family and how three out of the four of them have ADHD and dyslexia, which bring to all of them the gift of creativity.
Ms. Pinkney ended each session by answering a few questions from the children. As they left the room, the students continued to excitedly get in their last-minute queries, thank yous, and even a couple of hugs. The author visit was a wonderful culmination of our study of Andrea Davis Pinkney’s books and a beautiful start to Black History Month.
