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For the 33rd
year, upper elementary and junior high school students from schools
throughout Santa Barbara County will have the chance to meet and talk
with authors and illustrators of books for young people.
The occasion is the annual Author-Go-Round sponsored by the Santa Barbara
County Education Office. Santa Barbara area students will attend the
event May 12 through 16 at the County Education Office Auditorium, 4400
Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara. The sessions will last from 9 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. each day.
Each day, approximately 145 students will spend 25 minutes seated on
carpets in small groups around an author, listening and questioning.
At a music signal, they will rotate on to the next.
Participating authors and illustrators include Sneed Collard III, Alexandria
LaFaye, Itoko Maeno, and Alexis ONeill.
The day is further highlighted with colorful carousel decorations, a
juice break and fun-filled activities with prizes. Each day, one student
will be chosen as best overall winner in the four activities categories
and will receive a custom-made tee-shirt commemorating the event and
signed by the four authors and illustrators.
Students who participate will meet authors of books written specifically
for young people, explore avenues of creative writing and illustrating
with successful people in the field of literature, and read and discuss
in depth literary works by well-known authors.
Participating districts include Ballard, Blochman, Buellton, Carpinteria,
Casmalia, College, Goleta, Guadalupe, Hope, Lompoc, Los Alamos, Los
Olivos, Montecito, Orcutt, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria-Bonita, and Solvang.
This annual event pays tribute to the reading and writing of childrens
literature, said County Superintendent of Schools William J. Cirone,
whose office coordinates the annual event. The students come away
with a sense that they have been involved with a real literary
happening.
Further information is available from Matt Zuchowicz, coordinator of
instructional media services, at 964-4711, ext. 5247.
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