Lauren Tarshis Visits Franklin School – written by Maya 3S, Lauren 5WA, and Urmi 5WA, and Ms. Stochaj (librarian)

Lauren Tarshis is the author of I survived  series and she visited Franklin on November 12, 2015. Did you know Lauren is also Maya and Akira’s aunt and they go to Franklin School? Right now she lives in Connecticut  with her family. She likes yoga and spending time with her family. She couldn’t read for a very long time because the words confused her. She thought she would never become an author but she did.

Prior to Lauren coming to Franklin School third graders did research about her. The fourth and fifth graders researched an historical event. Then working in groups wrote a proposal to Lauren about whether or not the topic would make a good I Survived book. Several proposals from each grade were given to Lauren.

Lauren Tarshis talked about and read her amazing new book “The Hindenburg Disaster.” The first pulse quickening chapter of the book was read aloud to us by Lauren. She followed that up with her fascinating life story on how she became a success. She never thought she would become an author, because of her reading difficulties. Her amazing life story began when she was little and admired her father as he wrote on his typewriter. She started out as an editor for the Storyworks magazine by Scholastic. When Lauren met J.K. Rowling, she was inspired to keep writing.

Six children were selected to have lunch with Mrs. Tarshis, and they learned about her as a person and how she writes historical fiction. Lauren really dedicates her entire career to research. She has traveled to many of the locations in her books. She reads from numerous sources such as, diaries, personal accounts, newspaper articles, etc. Ms. Tarshis sometimes bases her book characters/ their actions off of real people and small details from the actual phenomenon in the books.

We are so thankful that Akira and Maya decided to go to Franklin School and we thank the PTO for giving the students of Franklin a wonderful opportunity to meet Lauren Tarshis.