NewsStudent LifePre-K to 8Academics
Award-winning author visits Lower School
Oct 29, 2007 10:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Award-winning author and storyteller Eric A. Kimmel visited the Lower School on Monday, Oct. 22, to speak to students in all grades.
“Each year, students are treated to a visit by a guest author or illustrator in order to encourage them in their creative process and instruct them in diligence,” said Ann Glass, Lower School librarian.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Kimmel holds a bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College (Penn.), a master’s from New York University and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. He has 26 years of experience teaching at the elementary and college levels, and in 1993, the professor emeritus of education retired from Portland State University to become a full-time writer.
“Dr. Kimmel was so funny," said fifth-grader Emily Swafford. "I liked the way he acted out his books. He was so nice and he told us all about what an author does."
Kimmel’s first book was published in 1974. Since then, he has published over 50 titles, many of which have one numerous state honors, appeared on school and library recommended lists, and won prestigious awards such as the Caldecott Honor Medal and the National Jewish Book Award. In 2005, the Association of Jewish Libraries awarded Kimmel the Sydney Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award for the body of his work, an award which has only been given five times. His newest book, “Wonders and Miracles,” has received starred reviews from all the major publishing journals and is already in its third printing.
“I like Dr. Kimmel’s books because they are funny," said fifth-grader Robert Muschamp. "He read them to us with excitement and told us about how he put parts of his real life experiences in the stories.”
When he's not writing, Kimmel travels around the world, visiting schools, telling stories, and looking for new book ideas. In the past two years, he and his wife, Doris, have visited Norway, Italy, Singapore and Panama. The couple lives in Portland.
Past guest authors/illustrators visiting the Lower School have included Patricia Reilly Giff, David Winsniewski, Robert San Souci, Jack Gantos, Lynn Cullen, Mike Lester, Carmen Agra Deedy, Helen Lester, Jane Kurtz and Mordicai Gerstein.
“Each year, students are treated to a visit by a guest author or illustrator in order to encourage them in their creative process and instruct them in diligence,” said Ann Glass, Lower School librarian.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Kimmel holds a bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College (Penn.), a master’s from New York University and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. He has 26 years of experience teaching at the elementary and college levels, and in 1993, the professor emeritus of education retired from Portland State University to become a full-time writer.
“Dr. Kimmel was so funny," said fifth-grader Emily Swafford. "I liked the way he acted out his books. He was so nice and he told us all about what an author does."
Kimmel’s first book was published in 1974. Since then, he has published over 50 titles, many of which have one numerous state honors, appeared on school and library recommended lists, and won prestigious awards such as the Caldecott Honor Medal and the National Jewish Book Award. In 2005, the Association of Jewish Libraries awarded Kimmel the Sydney Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award for the body of his work, an award which has only been given five times. His newest book, “Wonders and Miracles,” has received starred reviews from all the major publishing journals and is already in its third printing.
“I like Dr. Kimmel’s books because they are funny," said fifth-grader Robert Muschamp. "He read them to us with excitement and told us about how he put parts of his real life experiences in the stories.”
When he's not writing, Kimmel travels around the world, visiting schools, telling stories, and looking for new book ideas. In the past two years, he and his wife, Doris, have visited Norway, Italy, Singapore and Panama. The couple lives in Portland.
Past guest authors/illustrators visiting the Lower School have included Patricia Reilly Giff, David Winsniewski, Robert San Souci, Jack Gantos, Lynn Cullen, Mike Lester, Carmen Agra Deedy, Helen Lester, Jane Kurtz and Mordicai Gerstein.
