Meet the Author

Curriculum Areas: Language Arts, Reading, Writing
Grades: Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
Show Length: 47 30-minute programs
Usage Rights: Unlimited
Production Date: 2004-2011
Distributor: Fairfax Network
Availability: CMSD-TV; Order DVDs from Fairfax Network
WVIZ/PBS Broadcast:
Internet Site(s): http://www.fcps.edu/fairfaxnetwork
Teacher Guide: Materials available on web site.

CLOSED CAPTIONED:YES (06-07 NO)
Order directly from Fairfax Network.

This series is designed to promote literacy, and an interest in reading and writing, by giving students direct access to authors who share their personal stories, offer their writing tips, and encourage students to “keep reading, keep writing, keep dreaming.” Some teacher’s guides, author web sites and more, available at http://www.fcps.edu/fairfaxnetwork. Rights: unlimited.

Meet the Author 2011-2012

Meet the Author: Carmen Agra Grades 3-6 Available after September 30, 2011
Carmen Agra Deedy makes a return visit to the Fairfax Network with characters who could have walked straight out of nineteenth century Dickens’ novel. From the opening “HE WAS THE BEST OF TOMS. He was the worst of toms” to the epilogue, The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale thrills the reader with secrets and mystery.

Meet the Author: Lane Elementary Authors Grades 1-3 Available after November 11, 2011
FCPS teacher Nicole Groenewege challenged her first & second grade students to enter the Scholastic Book Fairs’ Kids Are Authors contest, an annual competition open to students in grades K–8. Five weeks, 20 revisions, and five tiers of judging later, their book, The Perfect Place for an Elf Owl, won the 2011 Grand Prize for Nonfiction. The book is about a little lost elf owl who searches for his mama through diverse habitats and ecosystems until he finally finds her in the “perfect place.” In the book’s dedication, one student wrote, "you have to read books, to write books." During this live program, the young authors will describe their roles in the writing process, teamwork, and the different elements of a storybook.

Meet the Author: William Joyce Grades 2-4 Available after December 1, 2011
William Joyce has put his personal stamp on all types of children's media. His picture books include The Man in the Moon, George Shrinks, Dinosaur Bob, and Santa Calls. He's won three Emmy awards for his Rolie Polie Olie animated series, developed character concepts for Toy Story and A Bug's Life, and made films including Robots and Meet the Robinsons. He's currently co-directing the DreamWorks Animation release of Rise of the Guardians (Fall 2012) inspired by his new series. He's also producing a movie based on his book The Leaf Men.

Meet the Author: Brandon Mull Grades 5-8 Available after February 29, 2012
Brandon Mull is the author of the Beyonders series, as well as the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Fablehaven series. He resides in Utah, in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and four children. Brandon's greatest regret is that he has but one life to give for Gondor.

Meet the Author: Discover Shakespeare Grades 9-12 Available April 25, 2012
The Fairfax Network returns to the Folger Shakespeare Library to examine one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, Othello. By identifying key passages that underscore issues of fairness — on personal and cultural levels — students will be able to identify how this thematic thread is woven through language and performance. Folger Shakespeare Library Director, Dr. Michael Witmore, will assist viewers in understanding how a play written over 400 years ago still resonates with today's audience.

Meet the Author 2010-2011

701. A.J. Stern, Grades 3-6
With resume, business cards, and a love for office supplies, Frannie Miller is off to find the perfect office job. The aspiring career girl tries hard to behave in grown-up ways, but instead of finding the perfect job, she finds only trouble. AJ Stern has written novels for adults and middle grade students. Stern’s new chapter book series, Frankly, Frannie, will have young readers following this spunky heroine from one job search to another. During the broadcast, AJ Stern talks about her desire to become a writer and shares a book she wrote at a young age, Planet Mold Burger. Stern answers questions from students.

702. Firoozeh Dumas, Grades 7-12
Funny in Farsi is a humorous look at Firoozeh Dumas’ family members as they adapt to life in America. Growing out of her collection of essays for her children, Dumas’ first book records the Iranian family’s immigrant experience. Her engineer father, her elegant mother, and the author, herself, offer a unique look at American customs that can be confusing to an outsider. The winner of the National Council for the Social Studies 2008 Spirit of America Award, Funny in Farsi is used by communities throughout the United Sates to help promote cultural understanding.

703. Jennifer O'Connell, Grades K-3
With an artistic mother and a storytelling father, Jennifer O’Connell grew up loving art and stories. This illustrator’s picture book, Ten Timid Ghosts, is a New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestseller. “I truly enjoy connecting with children of all ages when I visit schools and libraries. I believe picture books are for everyone. After all, there is a child in each of us!" During the program, O'Connell shows the progression from initial sketches to dummy books to final illustrations. She also answers students' questions.

704. Erica Perl, Grades K-3
You know what? What? Chicken butt! This joke is now a humorous picture book by Erica S. Perl. According to Kirkus Reviews, the book is “an unhinged piece of slap-happy rhyming.” In addition to Chicken Butt!, Perl is the author of Dotty and Chicken Bedtime Is Really Early. Students will find counting and math fun when they add up all the family members in Perl’s hilarious book Ninety-Three in My Family.

705. James L. Swanson, Grades 6-12
Born on Lincoln’s birthday, author James L. Swanson first became fascinated with Abraham Lincoln when he was just ten years old. His book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer is a New York Times bestseller. Chasing Lincoln’s Killer is the young people's version of Swanson's Manhunt. Swanson, an attorney, a Lincoln scholar, and a member of the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, uses archival materials, trial transcripts, and Lincoln relics to document the day-by-day search for Lincoln’s assassin. During the broadcast, Swanson shares his admiration for "all things Lincoln" and answers questions from students. Video about Lincon's assassination uses historical footage from the Library of Congress and the National Park Service.

706. Discover Shakespeare, Grades 6-12 (30 min.)
April is William Shakespeare’s birthday month. While we can’t ask William Shakespeare about iambic pentameter, we can explore his world with Dr. Gail Kern Paster, director of the Folger Shakespeare Library. The Folger Shakespeare Library, located in Washington, D.C., houses the world’s largest and finest collection of Shakespeare materials. As a national leader in teaching Shakespeare, Folger Shakespeare Library is dedicated to providing educators with outstanding classroom resources. During the program, Paster talks about techniques to understand the language used by Shakespeare in his plays. Snippets from performances by Herndon High School students of Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer's Night Dream are shown. Paster answers questions from students around the country sharing her perspective on everything Shakespeare.

Meet the Author 2009-2010

601. Adriana Trigiani, 7-12
Adriana Trigiani, author of Big Stone Gap, enters the world of young adult literature with Viola in Reel Life. The first in a series, Viola in Reel Life is about 14-year-old Viola who hates the idea of moving from her Brooklyn home to boarding school in Indiana for ninth grade while her parents finish a film project in Afghanistan. Roommates, dates, ghosts, and moviemaking are part of the mix for Viola. In addition to writing Big Stone Gap—now in production featuring Whoopi Goldberg— and several other popular novels including Very Valentine, Trigiani has written for theater, television, and movie production. She was writer-producer of The Cosby Show and A Different World and producer-head writer for City Kids for Jim Henson Productions.

602. Nancy Krulik, Grades 2-4
Nancy Krulik, best known for her Katie Kazoo Switcheroo books, is popular among 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders nationwide. Katie Carew is your average 3rd grader, but after a bad day at school when a bully nicknames her Katie Kazoo and it sticks, she wishes to become someone other than herself. Katie’s wish comes true when a magic wind blows and the hilarious switcheroo adventures begin.

603. Doreen Rappaport, Grades 2-5
Doreen Rappaport had a life changing experience in 1965, when she taught at a freedom school in McComb, Mississippi. There she met “extraordinary ordinary” people, many of whom were deprived of their civil rights. Inspired by their courage, she set out to write about many American heroes, including children, in her historical biography books. The School Is Not White! A True Story of the Civil Rights Movement and Freedom Ship will be featured.

604. Jackie Urbanovic, Grades 1-3
Jackie Urbanovic loves the Marx Brothers, Popeye, Bugs Bunny and a slew of other comic characters so much that her own picture book stories and illustrations are infused with a joyful, wacky vision of delight and escapade, including Duck Soup and Duck and Cover.

605. Cokie Roberts, Grades 9-12 (30 min.)
Cokie Roberts is a political commentator for ABC News. In addition to her appearances on the airwaves, Cokie Roberts has written several best sellers including Founding Mothers, published in 2004 and Ladies of Liberty in 2008.

606. Royce Buckingham, Grades 6-8
Royce Buckingham always dreamed of being a published author of fantasy stories, but needed a “real career” to pay his bills. He became a prosecuting attorney by day, while writing at night. His novel, Demonkeeper, was inspired by themes he would see in juvenile court. “I imagined life on the streets as a monster” that would eat up so many lost children. Demonkeeper is in development for a movie, while Royce Buckingham’s third novel is due out in the spring of 2010.

607. Kevin Garrahan, Grades 4-6
Kevin Garrahan is a sixth grade teacher and author of Third House Down Hidden Cove. Like so many educators, Kevin Garrahan has published stories for kids of all ages. This special edition of Meet the Author celebrates educators who walk the talk – writing for critical acclaim as well as fun.

Meet the Author 2008-2009

501. Meet the Author: Nathaniel Philbrick (grades 9-12)
Adapted for high school readers, The Mayflower and the Pilgrims’ New World is based on Philbrick’s award-winning title, Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War. Using diaries, ship’s logs, and other primary sources, Philbrick says his book “would be a very different story from the one I was taught in school about the First Thanksgiving and Plymouth Rock ... It’s a story about how a hunk of granite became one of America’s most popular—and powerful myths.” This program will explore the role of primary sources, as well as the author’s approach to developing a narrative in a work of nonfiction. To request a free Mayflower teacher's guide, visit http://www.fcps.edu/fairfaxnetwork/guides/mayflower.html. Additional guides may be downloaded from Penguin Group USA (http://us.penguingroup.com/static/images/yr/pdf/Mayflower_DG.pdf).

502. Meet the Author: Thomas Holtz (grades 4-6)
Describing himself as the “King of Dino Geeks,” Dr. Thomas Holtz is a professor at the University of Maryland’s College Park Scholars Earth, Life, & Time program. In addition to his children’s books and encyclopedias for young people, Dr. Holtz has written numerous academic publications. “We can learn a lot from dinosaurs—the evolution of life, climate change, the relationship between the living and nonliving world,” says Dr. Holtz. This program highlights Dr. Holtz’s work on Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages.

503. Meet the Author: Moira Rose Donohue (grades 2-3)
Punctuation counts! “That's why I decided to tell people about the secret personalities of punctuation marks,” says Moira Rose Donohue as she describes why she wrote Alfie the Apostrophe and Penny and the Punctuation Bee. Targeted for young writers, this special edition of Meet the Author will provide an overview of her books and a few minilessons on the importance of punctuation and grammar.

504. Meet the Author: William Boniface (grades 3-5)
This show’s producers can reveal the following: the reading habits of one entire school changed when two boys (hint: the boys are related to Mr. Boniface) lobbied the librarian to purchase a few copies of The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy. For boys and girls alike, each book in the series reveals a simple and important nugget: superpowers are no match for brainpower. Meet the real Mr. Boniface and discover his approach to the writing process.

505. Meet the Author: Rob Cleveland (grades K-3)
Master storyteller Rob Cleveland brings new insight to an ancient tradition: telling stories. A former special education teacher, Cleveland is a storyteller-in-residence at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, Georgia. As an author, comedian, actor, and educator, Rob Cleveland doesn’t just write stories; he performs them!

506. Meet the Author: Susan Stockdale (grades 3-5)
Author and illustrator Susan Stockdale began her children’s book career with the publication of Some Sleep Standing Up. Soon, Nature’s Paintbrush: The Patterns and Colors Around You, selected as an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children by the National Science Teachers Association, followed—along with Carry Me! Animal Babies on the Move and Fabulous Fishes. Susan Stockdale will describe how she creates her work in terms of words, images, and format.

Meet the Author 2007-2008

401. Rosemary Wells (grades 5-9)
Best know for her classic children’s characters Max, Ruby, Timothy, and Noisy Nora, author and illustrator Rosemary Wells has written a complex novel for young adult readers. Red Moon at Sharpsburg focuses on a young girl from Virginia named India Moody who dreams of attaining a higher education at a time when only one college in the country would accept women students. India’s strength of character is tested as she deals with the harsh realities of the Civil War and its impact on her small rural town.

402. Laura Elliott (grades K-3)
Laura Malone Elliott makes a return visit to the Fairfax Network to highlight the world of Hunter and Stripe, best friend raccoons who like to do everything together. But what happens when Stripe comes to school in a mischief-making mood and Hunter doesn’t want to follow along? Or the time soccer competition between the two furry pals appears to drive them apart? Laura Elliott and Lynn Munsinger are the creators of the popular Hunter’s Best Friend at School, winner of the Gold Oppenheim Award and IRA/CBC Children’s Choice and recipient of the Society of Illustrators Original Art Award.

403. Adrian Fogelin (grades 4-9)
Award-winning author, Adrian Fogelin, writes fiction novels that deal with complex issues and emotions that most middle school age students can relate to. In Crossing Jordan, two adolescent girls teach the adults around them about racial tolerance. Through her novels, Adrian Folgelin says, “I want to tell a good story. I want readers to meet characters they can care about, and even learn from. I always hope that some ethical question is raised, and that, no matter what problem the characters encounter, the foundation remains; the world is still a good place."

404. T.A. Barron (grades 6-12)
Building on the popular Lost Years of Merlin tales, fantasy adventure readers will be thrilled with T.A. Barron’s Great Tree of Avalon trilogy, a New York Times bestseller. Barron’s “passion for the wonders of nature, his deep concern for humanity and our fragile planet, and his belief in the heroic potential of every person, radiate through his books.”

405. Sneed B. Collard III (grades 4-9)
Sneed B. Collard III is an author of more than 40 books for young people. His first novel, Dog Sense, was inspired by his Frisbee-catching border collie, Mattie. Collard’s novel, Flash Point fits well into the nature and science curriculums. About his research, Collard says “Unlike many other authors, I like to gather the information for my books by talking to the experts. I especially love to travel into the field with scientists to see first-hand how they work, where they work, and what they are discovering.”

406. Wendy Lichtman (grades 5-8)
Wendy Lichtman decided to write a story for teens that suggested there might be some questions with more than one right answer. With Do the Math: Secrets, Lies and Algebra, viewers are introduced to Lichtman’s use of algebraic metaphor when she describes middle school from one character’s point of view: “We’re spending a lot of time studying inequalities now, which makes sense, since who you’re greater than and who you’re less than is kind of the point of eighth grade."

407. James Howe (grades 2-5)
James Howe is the author of more than 70 books, including the popular series, Bunnicula. As observed by Chester the cat and Harold the dog, strange things happen at the Monroe family home after Bunnicula the bunny joins the household. Chester is convinced the bunny is a vampire. Howe says, “Back in the Olden Days, before there were such things as cable television or DVDs, I loved staying up late at night to watch old horror movies on TV. Nighty-Nightmare came out of the affection I still feel for those movies and the laughs – along with the chills – they gave me. Chester’s story of how Bunnicula traveled from Transylvania to America is a spoof of just about every old horror movie I ever saw!” Howe has written several series for young readers, including the Sebastian Barth Mystery series and the Pinky and Rex series, and picture books like There’s a Monster Under My Bed.

2006-2007 (Not closed captioned.)
301. Janet Tyler Lisle (grades 5-8)
It’s hard to put a label on Janet Tyler Lisle’s books. From her latest publication, Black Duck, to her most critically acclaimed, Afternoon of the Elves, Lisle has an uncanny ability to convince readers that her blend of fantasy, mystery and fiction are perfectly real. On this live edition, Janet Tyler Lisle will share writing tips, explain how she mixes fact and fiction so successfully in her books, and, of course, answer student questions about the writing process. Janet Tyler Lisle has written many books including The Crying Rocks, How I Became a Writer & Oggie Learned to Drive, and The Art of Keeping Cool.

302. John McCutcheon (grades 3-6)
John McCutcheon’s storytelling style has been compared to that of Will Rogers and Garrison Keillor – not bad for a guitar-slinging, Grammy-nominated folksinger who just happens to write picture books for kids. When sworn enemies meet on an open field during World War I, it becomes known as the Christmas Truce. John McCutcheon adapted the story and wrote a song, and later wrote a children’s book about this event. McCutcheon will talk about Christmas in the Trenches, Happy Adoption Day, and the power of both song and word.

303. Jennifer Holm (grades 3-5)
When Jennifer Holm was a young girl, she liked to read – a lot! A neighbor remembers seeing her rake leaves with a book in one hand and the rake in the other. Her story ideas are generated by childhood memories and family history. A diary kept by her great aunt inspired her first novel, Our Only May Amelia. Comic books were another source of inspiration. The only girl in a family of five, Holm recalls fighting with her brothers over who got to read the Sunday comic section first. Teaming up with graphic artist and brother Matt Holm, Jennifer has created a delightful graphic novel series called Baby Mouse.

304. Frances Park and Ginger Park (grades 1-3)
Ginger and Frances Park grew up listening to stories of their mother’s childhood in North Korea. One of these stories was the inspiration for My Freedom Trip, a child’s journey across the 38th parallel just prior to the outbreak of the Korean War. Winner of the 1999 International Reading Association Children’s Book Award. Many of the picture books by Ginger and Frances Park celebrate Korean heritage and customs, including The Royal Bee and The Have a Good Day Café.

305. Dennis Denenberg (grades 3-6)
This former high school social studies teacher, former elementary school principal and former assistant superintendent of schools knows that children can grow up in a world without real heroes. Dr. Dennis Denenberg believes that children need real heroes – not just heroes of the cartoon variety – in their lives. In his book, 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet, Denenberg and coauthor Lorraine Roscoe introduce students to ordinary people who do extraordinary things. The book contains short biographies to whet the reader’s appetite and encourage students to seek out more information.

306. Elisa Carbone (grades 5-8)
Elisa Carbone has released Blood on the River: James Town 1607 just in time to celebrate the 400th anniversary of John Smith’s efforts to establish an English colony on the banks of the James River. The story is told through the eyes of John Smith’s young page, Samuel Collier. Full-time writer, part-time rock climber, windsurfer, and white-water paddler, Carbone is best known for her books for young people, including Stealing Freedom, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and Storm Warriors, an ALA Notable Children’s Book and winner of the Virginia Library Association’s 2002 Jefferson Cup Award.

307. Nancy Yi Fan (Grades 6-8)
Born in China in 1993, 13-year-old author Nancy Yi Fan has woven a captivating tale about the birds of Stone-Run Forest. Swordbird is a novel about friendship, heroism, courage, and resourcefulness. After awaking from a vivid dream about birds at war while wrestling with her feelings about terrorism and September 11, Nancy wrote Swordbird as a way to convey her message of peace to the world.
During this live program, students are invited to call in to talk to the authors about their latest books, the writing process, becoming a writer—whatever is on their minds.

Meet the Author 2005-2006 (CC)
201. Sharon Creech (grades 5-8). Known for her classic voice and unique style, Creech is the best-selling author of the Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons, and Newbery Honor Book The Wanderer. Creech will discuss her latest novel, Replay, a book about self-discovery and fitting in.
202. R.L. Stine (grades 3-5). Joke writer, magazine editor, and teller of scary stories, Stine will talk about his new, humorous series, Rotten School.
203. Gail Karwoski (grades 4-6). One reviewer said of Seaman: The Dog Who Explored the West with Lewis and Clark, “even reluctant readers will find it just too good to put down.
204. Myron Uhlberg (grades 4-6) His picture books are a nostalgic testament to everything he loves – family, Brooklyn, and baseball.
205. Christopher Paul Curtis (grades 6-9) On his return visit, the author discusses why readers can connect with formidable and endearing characters.
206. Michelle Y. Green (grades 4-6) She likes learning about “holes in history” – like the story of a female baseball player in A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson.
207. Mary Batten (grades 4-6) This award-winning author writes science books for children and adults, television documentaries, and magazine articles.

Meet the Author 2004-2005 (CC)

101. Kalli Dakos (grades 2-4)
102. Stuart Murphy (for grades K-3)
103. Dan Gutman (grades 4-7)
104. Lemony Snicket (grades 4-7)
105. Christopher Paul Curtis (grades 5-8)
106. Anthony D. Fredericks (grades 2-5)
107. Avi (grades 4-7)