Write to the Author

Make a very special pop-up card for a very special author.

• 1.

  Bring your favorite book to school to share with classmates. Describe the book, telling why it is your favorite book. Introduce several characters and explain the problems they solve in the book. Share comments you would like to tell the author.

• 2.

  Create a pop-up card showing one character in the book. Fold two pieces of paper in half to make two cards (one for the inside and one for the outside cover). On one card, measure about 3 inches (8 cm) in from both ends of the fold and mark these points with a Crayola® Fine Line Marker.

• 3.

  At both marks, use Crayola Scissors to cut through the fold and into the card about 1 1/2 inches (4 cm). Push the section between the cuts into the fold in reverse, then close and press the card flat.

• 4.

  Cut another piece of paper into a half circle that will fit within the borders of the closed card. On the half circle draw a picture with your markers of one of the characters in your favorite book. Glue the half circle to the front of the folded shelf with a Crayola Washable Glue Stick.

• 5.

  From another piece of paper cut a word bubble. Put yourself in the place of the character. Write a question for the author from the character with a marker. For example, Ramona could ask Beverly Cleary what she liked to do when she was 8 years old. Glue t

• 6.

  Create a message for the outside cover of the card using colorful block letters. Glue the cover to the pop-up card. Open and write your own message to the author on the inside.

Benefits

• Children orally present information about a favorite book to their classmates.
• Students construct pop-up cards that depict a character in the author's book and include a question for the author written from the point of view of the character.
• Students write to the authors with questions and comments about their favorite books.

Adaptations

• Mail cards to authors in care of publishers at the addresses listed inside the front covers of the books. Use online resources to get more information about favorite authors including e-mail addresses and Web sites.
• Work in teams of two or more. Create cards for one character to send to another character in a different book to solve a problem. For example, Stellaluna might ask the Ugly Duckling for advice. Create answer cards from one character responding to the othe
• Students creatively include detailed information to demonstrate their understanding of a book for a report on it. Children can write directly to a character to respond to events in the book or ask a question about choices made by the character.
• Younger children and those with special needs may need assistance with writing. Enlist the help of older students or parent volunteers to transcribe pre-writers' ideas for them onto their cards.