Since 2010, Lower School students have have experienced the joy and excitement of meeting the authors of their favorite books right on the Park Slope campus… and many of those favorites happen to be bestselling authors and winners of the some of the most prestigious book awards there are for children’s lit.

Librarian Kristen Robb said she started the Lower School Author Visits to get kids excited about reading. “We are fortunate because the resources in this neighborhood are tremendous!” she said. “There are literally authors and illustrators living on every block.”

Alexandra Penfold, author of All Are Welcome, read to Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 1 from her picture book about diversity and support for all children. Writer/illustrator Vashti Harrison, author of the New York Times bestseller Little Dreamers, read from her book of stories about visionary women. Best-selling author Dave Eggers delighted the Kindergarten and Grade 2 students by sharing his new children’s book Abner & Ian Get Right-Side Up (illustrated by Laura Park). Amid much laughter, Robb and the children helped Eggers get the characters on their feet by shaking the book.

To celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, Robb hosted visiting author and illustrator Raul the Third, who told Grades 4, 5 & 6 about his early life in El Paso, TX, his introduction to drawing, and how he created his books Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market and Lowriders in Space. Author and illustrator Salina Yoon shared her books Penguin and Pinecone and Kiki and Jax with our students during another Lower School author visit.

Raul the Third

Matt de la Pena

Jessica Love

George O’Connor

Alexandra Penfold

Salina Yoon