Children's author to visit High Point

A children's author from Idaho will make an appearance at High Point at the beginning of next month.

Judy Young, author of 27 children's poetry, fiction and nonfiction books, will be speaking with students March 2 at High Point Schools. Her books have won many national awards and recognitions, including "A Pet for Miss Wright" being read by LeVar Burton for Reading Rainbow Storytime Video. Young resides in the mountains near Mink Creek, Idaho, with her husband Ross B. Young, a professional artist who illustrated two of her books.

Young will spend the day speaking with all grade levels, explaining the role of authors and illustrators as well as discussing the writing process. Kindergarten and first grade students will focus on poetry with interactive poems from "R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet."

Second, third and fourth grade students will have a "surprise visit" by Basil B. Barnswhitten, the main character from "The Hidden Bestiary of Marvelous, Mysterious and (maybe even) Magical Creatures" as they discover clues about the whereabouts of animals hidden in the illustrations and help determine whether the creatures are extinct, endangered or never existed. Then, students will help the author write a poem based on one of the book's illustrations.

Fifth and sixth grade students will focus on "The Wild World of Buck Bray" series, learning how nonfiction science and math concepts are incorporated into fiction writing.

Judy will present her Focus on Fiction program to seventh and eighth graders, using her novel "Promise" as well as her historical fiction picture books to illustrate how she gets ideas for stories by answering just two simple questions and how she makes these ideas grow into stories as she gives an in-depth look at the process of writing fiction from beginning to end.

To end the school day, select students from fifth to eighth grade will get some extra time with Judy as she explains in more depth about what actually happens once a manuscript is submitted for publication.

The same evening, starting at 6 p.m. in the school gym, Judy will speak at the school's Family Night, reading from "A Pet for Miss Wright," as well as reciting a poetry rap and sharing some behind the scenes aspects of the life of an author. The evening concludes with the announcement of the winners of the school's poetry contest, judged by author Judy Young.

Autographed books will be available for purchase at the evening event. Read more about Judy at www.judyyoungpoetry.com.