What was the coolest thing about Will Hobb's visit to Blatchley Middle School? Write a five-sentence paragraph. The first sentence should be about the "coolest thing." The next three sentences should explain and the fifth sentence restate your main idea.

Hello to the Sitka Wolves! Author Will Hobbes will be in Sitka soon and visiting Sitka High on Wednesday, September 22. We welcome blog comments from SHS students here!

Roland Smith was treated like a celebrity when he came to Bethel, AK.Getting authors to this remote site is prohibitive because of the cost of flying here, so having an author in town is a rare and special occasion.

Roland Smith did two presentations at Gladys Jung Elementary School and one at Bethel Youth Facility. Fifteen students from the junior high and 5-6th grade were randomly drawn to "eat lunch with an author" after his presentations. It was quite a spread with lasagna, french bread, dried fish strips, agutak and cookie. Students were able to sit and ask questions to Mr. Smith in a very casual and comfortable setting.

Roland saw his biggest crowds when visiting Bethel. He presented first to approximately 190 kindergarten through third graders and gave a second presentation to 500 fourth through eighth graders. Librarian Suzanne Richards reported that students were very excited about having an author visit their town, a rare occurrence that left students wondering when JK Rowling could come by!

75 students in Lathrop's Team A met with Roland Smith during his visit to Alaska. The interdisciplinary class centers on investigations of English, earth science and health. "Peak was a perfect match. It fit in well with the class, touching on geologic formations, climbing, and altitude sickness," commented Lathorp librarian Lynne Krizek. Team A students are still finishing the book and working on writing activities associated with Peak.

Roland is only one of several visitors to Team A students this year. As part of a grant, the school brought Himilayan climbers to meet with the students.

We'll have information soon about Mr. Smith's visit to upper elementary students at Hunter Elementary.

Third through sixth graders at University Park Elementary (300 students) read up a storm before and after Roland Smith's visit there. Sixth graders read copies of Thunder Cave borrowed from the Alaska Spirit of Reading program. Other students visited  the library for copies of Peak, Zach's Lie, Tentacles, and IQ. During his visit, copies of Sea Otter Rescue and The Captain's Dog. Thanks to University Park Elementary for their participation in the Alaska Spirit of Reading program.

Roland visited the Fairbanks Regional Youth Facility to talk to students there. "It went really well and the kids enjoyed it," commented FRYF employee Mike Shay. Ten students met with Roland and asked good questions about the writing process and how stories are conceived and developed. The Spirit of Reading program provided books to three of Alaska's youth facilities. Students in Fairbanks had either read the book or were in the process of reading it when Roland visited. Thanks FRYF for participating in the Alaska Spirit of Reading program.

Roland Smith gave a great presentation to kids and adults in Fairbanks on Wednesday night. We all enjoyed the photo journey through his life, books, and writing process. It was good to hear about the steps leading up to those great books, including Peak. Door prize drawings included Cryptid Hunters, Tentacles, and Peak.

Thanks for sharing your work, Roland!

You must enter the Witness Security Program. Create a new identity for yourself. Where will you relocate to? What will your new school be like? Who are your new friends? What is your new name? You get the idea...