Caldecott Medal Winner Emily Arnold McCully Visits Lower School

Classes I-III were visited by Caldecott Medal Winner Emily Arnold McCully. The Caldecott is awarded each year to the "most distinguished American picture book for children." McCully won the Caldecott in 1993 for her book, Mirette on the High Wire. She has illustrated over 100 books and many of her books are based on true stories. 

McCully spoke to students about how she gets her ideas for writing books. She walked students through her writing process: She starts with a first draft, edits, brings it to the artistic director's office, and eventually sends it off for final publication.

Students worked with McCully to create a short story, complete with illustrations. "To be an writer," she said, "You need to read, read, read." To be an illustrator, she explained, you must use your imagination, allow yourself to be messy, and try again and again to get to it right. Lower School students have been reading her books in class and during library time and were patiently awaiting her arrival.

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