First Grade Author Study: Kevin Henkes

Prior to the Thanksgiving Break, first graders at Anderson got a chance to get to know Kevin Henkes and his books a bit better by participating in a variety of activities. Students had the opportunity hear Mrs. Littlejohn read aloud from one of her favorite Kevin Henkes's books, A Weekend with Wendell, through Skype! Then, students visited the library on four different occasions to participate in stations where they had the chance to create a birthday card for Kevin Henkes's birthday, listen to 3 Podcasts of Mrs. Littlejohn reading aloud from 3 different Kevin Henkes books, make a quilt square to highlight positive characteristics for a class quilt, "pack" a sleepover bag and write a letter to a friend about a sleepover, construct a necklace for a friend like Chrysanthemum wears, and read aloud from many of Kevin Henkes's books. Some of our amazing parent volunteers came to help the first graders as they completed their projects and even read aloud to the students. At the end of this week of fun, all the birthday cards were mailed to Kevin Henkes in New York, and he actually wrote back thanking the first graders for the well wishes on his birthday!