Bringing Stories to Life: Highlighting Authors that Inspired
At Start Lighthouse, we believe in the power of storytelling. Books not only ignite imagination and transport readers to new worlds, but they also foster connections and inspire young minds. Throughout the school year we were able to provide our students the incredible opportunity to meet the authors behind some of their favorite books. As we reflect on these visits, we are excited to be highlighting the most memorable authors we had the privilege of hosting: Rekha Rajah, Jonathan Todd and Tracey Baptiste.
We love creating unique experiences for our students– ones that spark creativity and leave lifetime memories. In April, Jonathan Todd spent some time in one of our hubs and gave our kids something really special: the chance to create their own comic strip. His graphic novel, Timid, not only engaged our students but also introduced them to the art of storytelling through comics. As our first graphic novelist to visit, Todd’s presence reinforced the importance of diverse storytelling formats. Throughout our book shopping experience we witnessed firsthand how captivating graphic novels are for our kids and how important they are to remind students about the distinct ways to format storytelling. Showing our students that creativity and reading can take a variety of forms.
In November, we were honored to welcome New York Times Bestselling author Tracey Baptiste to one of our hubs. Baptiste has an incredibly influential way of merging science, folklore, fairy tales and family lore into her storytelling. During her visit we highlighted two of her books: Looking for a Jumbie and Boy 2.0. Looking for a Jumbie carried our children through the world of Caribbean folklore which stimulated their imagination. Meanwhile, her book Boy 2.0 resonated deeply with our students because of the strong character personality and compelling narrative. Baptiste's visit served as a reminder that storytelling also connects us to our culture and explores human experiences. Her visit was a true gift– allowing our kids to connect the face behind the books they love while showing them that storytelling carries deep meaning.
We love creating unique experiences for our students– ones that spark creativity and leave lifetime memories. In April, Jonathan Todd spent some time in one of our hubs and gave our kids something really special: the chance to create their own comic strip. His graphic novel, Timid, not only engaged our students but also introduced them to the art of storytelling through comics. As our first graphic novelist to visit, Todd’s presence reinforced the importance of diverse storytelling formats. Throughout our book shopping experience we witnessed firsthand how captivating graphic novels are for our kids and how important they are to remind students about the distinct ways to format storytelling. Showing our students that creativity and reading can take a variety of forms.
Some words from Thomas Shaffer
Our program manager, Thomas Shaffer, has thoughtfully and carefully curated a diverse range of authors to come visit our hubs, recognizing the profound impact of these interactions. He believes that meeting the writers behind the books allows children to deepen their understanding of the stories while broadening their perspectives. As he explains, not only are children able to build a better understanding of the books, but it offers an opportunity for them to “broaden their horizon and see that there is a bigger world outside of the bronx.” These authors– highly respected and widely recognized– generously share their time and energy to foster a sense of community among our students. Their presence creates meaningful moments where children are allowed to ask valuable questions and gain a deeper insight into the world of storytelling. Most importantly, these visits are bringing representation to the forefront. As Thomas emphasizes, “These are authors of color speaking to children of color, giving them a chance to recognize that there are people just like them who are making a living with writing and drawing. He hopes that these visits can motivate students to potentially become an author and illustrator”.
These author visits are more than just reading books and getting the opportunity to meet incredible authors; it's about providing children with the resources to recognize that passions can turn into careers. With the help of these incredible author visits, we have seen firsthand how stories can empower students and encourage them to dream big! As we continue to bring more voices into our classrooms, we remain committed to nurturing a love for literature and showing our students that their own stories matter too.
