Author and Illustrator Peter Catalanotto Visited Franklin School
For First and Second Graders
On April 14th and 15th
Thanks to the PTO, all first and second graders were treated to a visit from author/illustrator Peter Catalanotto. Each child met with Peter twice. Peter is the author and illustrator of 16 books including Dylan’s Day Out and Matthew ABC. He has also illustrated 30 others including Mother to Tigers and Happy Birthday America. All four first grades first heard him talk about how he gets his ideas. He talked about Matthew ABC coming from his own kindergarten experience where there was another child named Peter in his class. He thought WHAT IF all the children in a class had the same name. All four second grades also heard him speak about where he gets his ideas. Peter shared that in his book Monkey and Robot the characters are based on his daughter and him. The rest of his visit was filled by having two classes come together to brainstorm a story. He stressed that each story begins with a character who wants something, who then encounters a problem and tries to find a solution. The children worked to develop ideas for a story before they came up with an idea.
If you have a first or second grader, here are some things you might talk with him/her about the visit.
1- Tell me about all the characters in Dylan’s Day Out.
2- What two words help a story come to life? According to Peter they are: What if. Ask your child how can these words help a story?
3- While a writer is brainstorming ideas they ask themselves what could happen? And what could go wrong? Brainstorm a story with your child keeping these questions in mind. Click here to see an organizer to help.
