Woodland Elementary School Is Awesome

I love visiting schools. One of the last school visits of the year was to this one in Southwick, Massachusetts:

Thank you, Woodland Elementary School!

I was lucky enough to spend two whole days with the kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade students of Woodland Elementary School. You should know that they are EXTREMELY smart and talented. During the presentations, they brainstormed oodles of story ideas and had lots of excellent questions. (My favorites: "Does your hand ever get tired?" and "What did your mom think when you got published?")

We had a pizza party in the library, where the guests offered many exciting ideas for a third Joe and Sparky story. Like these:

JOE AND SPARKY BATTLE GENERAL GRIEVOUS
JOE AND SPARKY SWIM WITH SHARKS
JOE AND SPARKY: LOST IN SPACE
JOE AND SPARKY MEET JAKE THE ELEPHANT
JOE AND SPARKY: SHARK ATTACK!

And they are not just gifted authors. They are artists, too. Check out what the kindergarten class did!

Stunning hallway display by the Woodland Elementary School kindergartners

Can you spot the handprints?

As a bonus, I fulfilled a lifelong dream and ate in the teachers' lounge!!! After being barred for decades, I was finally allowed to enter that secret clubhouse of educators. It was all that I imagined and more--a smorgasbord of complimentary baked treats, chocolate, and ten different kinds of coffee. (Somebody later told me that the treats and coffee were a special gift for Teacher Appreciation Week, but I prefer to think that the teachers' lounge always has a party in full swing.)

All in all, a perfect school visit. Now carry on and enjoy your summer.