Literature celebrated at PS 18, the Bronx, and PS 184, Queens

Miller Photography UFT District 7 Representative Patricia Filomena looks on as children’s book illustrator Colin Bootman signs his books for students at PS 18, the Bronx.

Miller Photography A 5th-grader shows students’ illustrations to (from left) UFT Vice President Karen Alford, PS 18 Chapter Leader Sophy Aponte and Bootman.

Miller Photography Author Audrey Vernick with kindergartners during her December visit to PS 184, Queens.

“The children are still talking about it,” said Chapter Leader Sophy Aponte about a Jan. 11 visit from a children’s book illustrator at PS 18 in the Bronx.

Colin Bootman held kids rapt with a visual presentation about his childhood — coming to New York from Trinidad, going to school in the Bronx, hating the snow that everyone had promised was wonderful and being shocked when his mother got food out of cans instead of from a garden or marketplace.

Aponte, who teaches 5th grade, hosted the visit in conjunction with UFT Vice President Karen Alford and Bronx District 7 Representative Patricia Filomena.

“The UFT purchased multiple copies of Colin Bootman’s books for nearly 100 5th-graders and their teachers,” said Aponte. She and her grade-level colleagues prepared kids for Bootman’s visit so they would get the most out of it.

Teachers helped kids frame questions for their special guest. Art teacher Omayra Rivera-Filardi got copies of Bootman’s books ahead of time so children could study the illustrations. Then they created their own visual responses, reflecting on colors, moods and images in the stories.

“The children were very engaged because he spoke to them about finding their passion and following it,” Aponte said.

Students were similarly enchanted by an author at PS 184 in Queens. This visiting children’s book writer did not come from a faraway place, however. Audrey Vernick went to PS 184 when she was a little girl.

At the December event, hosted by pre-K–5 media/library teacher Adriana Tibbets, children were delighted with Vernick’s reading of “Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?” a zany take on starting school.

Tibbets and other early childhood teachers prepared kids by reading some of Vernick’s other books aloud and touring her website to learn about her.

The visit from Vernick “captured the children’s attention and motivated them,” said Tibbets. “They were thrilled to meet an author and even more so at learning she went to their school when she was little.”

Some children told Tibbets they want to read Vernick’s other books; others said they want to be authors or illustrators when they grow up.