This cluster of fourth grade students was excited to talk to the visiting author after the presentation.
Cook County School’s 4th grade class filled the two front rows of the Arrowhead Center for the Arts auditorium on Wednesday, March 2 to hear Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux talk a little about writing and to hear her read from her recently published book, The Marvelous Imagination of Katie Addams.
DeCoux began the talk with a short story about a school assignment that contributed to her decision to become a writer. During class, DeCoux said her mind wandered a little and she failed to pay attention to an assignment the teacher had given them. Instead of completing the assignment as directed, DeCoux wrote three sentences about some geese she saw flying by the window. When she brought the assignment to the teacher, he only shook his head. When she brought it home, however, her mother exclaimed, “You’re a poet!”
DeCoux then asked the kids what some of their favorite stories were, and received a variety of enthusiastic answers, including The Magic Tree House, Hatchet and others. When asked what he liked about his favorite story, one little boy promptly replied, “Everything!”
DeCoux shared a few of her own favorite stories as well, including The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and The Golden Compass.
She then read from a few different chapters of her book, pausing to ask and respond to questions from the students. The 4th graders were clearly excited about the visit and eager to talk to the author.
After concluding the reading, DeCoux stuck around to answer questions. One student wondered how many languages the book was printed in, to which DeCoux responded only one, English.
“How do you get your voice to sound kind of like an Australian accent?” another wondered.
DeCoux responded that her dad was from England, and that she learned from him, clarifying also that it was more an English rather than an Australian accent.
The students were reluctant to leave after the talk, and several girls went up to the stage as their classmates were heading out, gathering around DeCoux to ask questions about her writing.
Leave a Reply