*

Second and Third graders will work with picture book author and illustrator Suzanne Bloom.  She has been writing and illustrating children's books for over 10 years.  Her titles include We Keep a Pig in the Parlor, A Family for Jamie, The Bus for Us, and Piggy Monday.  Her illustrations include a wide diversity of children as well as an unusual number of pigs and alligators!  She is often inspired by the children she meets and the classrooms she visits.  She lives in McDonough, New York.

*

Todd Strasser will visit fourth and fifth grade classrooms.  He is the author of over 100 novels and novelizations, mostly for middle-grade and teenage readers.  His books have won numerous awards, including the American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults three times.

Todd Strasser writes humorous books that address serious concerns such as honesty, loyalty and trust.  According to Strasser, "My goal is to show students that reading can be fun, and maybe even get them to laugh out loud.  I want young people to enjoy reading and not feel they're being preached to.  The challenge for me is to get a moral across in an enjoyable way.  I try to make my books funny, but not frivolous."

His titles include: The Accident, The Wave, How I Changed my Life, How I Created the Perfect Prom Date, Help I'm Trapped in My Teacher's Body, Help I'm Trapped in My Gym Teacher's Body.  He lives in Larchmont, New York.  More information can be found at www.toddstrasser.com

*

Elizabeth Winthrop will visit the sixth grade classes.  Ms. Winthrop has written books for all age groups including picture books such as Dumpy LaRue and Shoes as well as novels for middle age students such as the popular Castle in the Attic .

Most recently Ms. Winthrop published a novel of historical fiction entitled: "Dear Mr. President: Franklin Delano Roosevelt" -Letters from a Mill Town Girl set in North Adams.  Ms. Winthrop did extensive research in North Adams, and has dedicated the novel to the people of North Adams, "generous storytellers and preservers of history."

Ms. Winthrop lives in New York City and Williamstown.