-
Children’s author and illustrator Shanda McClosky worked on this year's One Book Habersham selection, and she will meet with students three times this week.
Children’s author and illustrator Shanda McClosky will visit with Habersham County Schools elementary and middle school students three days this week to culminate the 6th Annual One Book Habersham three-month event. She also will speak at a community event open to the public on April 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Wilbanks Middle School.
Since mid-January of this year, people of all ages have been finding and reading copies of “Little Red and the Big, Bad Wolf/Editor,” the book selection for the 6th Annual One Book Habersham which McClosky beautifully illustrated. Approximately 500 books were distributed around the county at schools, banks, businesses, restaurants, and medical offices for customers/patients to read while waiting for their appointment or meal. Teachers have been reading and discussing the book with students also during this time.
In the book, Little Red is heading to Grandma’s with goodies and a thank you note for the “bold, red cape” she made for her. The wolf happens to see the note before he can grab Little Red for his dinner and is appalled at how badly it is written. Throughout the book, Little Red avoids being eaten, while the wolf continues to edit the note.
Delightfully written and illustrated, the book has become an OBH favorite over the past three months with children and adults alike looking forward to meeting the talented illustrator.
In addition to writing and illustrating children’s books, McCloskey says she loves visiting schools. “I love talking with children and showing them how to draw robots,” she says on her website.
McClosky will do that and more when she visits in person with second and fifth graders at Habersham Central High School’s Performing Arts Center during her visit. She and the book’s author, Rebecca Kraft Rector, also will hold two virtual events with elementary and middle school students. McClosky culminates her visit on Friday when she speaks at the Habersham Young Georgia Authors event.
The community event Thursday will offer an opportunity for attendees to meet McClosky, hear her speak about writing and illustration, and ask questions. Several books that McClosky has written and or illustrated will be available for community members to purchase. Free pizza and drinks will be available for all who attend.
McClosky, who studied art in Atlanta and New York City taught high school art before becoming an author/illustrator. She lives in Ball Ground with her husband, daughters and their dog.
In addition to Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf/Editor, she is the illustrator of Bedtime Battle by Kallie George (2021) and Fire Truck vs. Dragon by Chris Barton (2020). She also is the author/illustrator of T-Bone the Drone (2019) and Doll-E (2018).
Sponsor organizations for One Book Habersham are the Habersham County School System, Volunteers for Literacy, and Habersham County Libraries.
For more information go to www.onebookhaberham.net or email Volunteers For Literacy at literacy1989@outlook.net.