Children’s Author Visits Klager Elementary as Part of March is Reading Month

Author Cynthia Furlong Reynolds talking to Klager Elementary first graders last Monday about writing.

Local area author Cynthia Furlong Reynolds, whose publications include children’s and young adult books, histories, novels, short stories and even a cookbook, spent a whole day at Klager Elementary School on Monday as part of the school’s observance of “March is Reading Month.” Reynolds spent time in different classrooms during the students’ reading instruction time in the morning and then did an hour-long presentation for each of the five grade levels in the library.

The students were excited and engaged as Reynolds explored what it meant to be a writer and what tools writers used, including their imagination, curiosity, observation and language. In explaining curiosity, she stated, “Writers are like dogs; they follow their nose to a story.” At which point she had all of the first graders in the room rub their nose and say “I smell a story!” She discussed how writers have to use “feeling” words to become the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and fingers of the readers. She both talked about her books and used examples from books most of the students had heard.

Grammie’s Secret Cupboard, one of her much discussed children’s books is a “Mom’s Choice Award” winner. This story, along with a children’s chapter book Across the Reach both are based on Reynold’s own childhood. Reynolds used these two stories to talk about how with the magic wand used in writing (formerly known as a pencil), a writer can take something that is non-fiction and change parts of it to turn it into the story the writer wants it to be.

In addition to school visits and children’s workshops, Reynold runs workshops for adults. She is running a workshop series that started yesterday and another all-day workshop in May at Serendipity Books in Chelsea. She also runs a writing workshop from 9 to noon the first Saturday of every month at the United Methodist Church in Dexter. If you are interested in attending a workshop or reading more about  her life, or her publications, visit her website HERE.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.