Elizabeth Willoughby
Lenna Shiffman shows her illustrations to Faber's third graders.
First Grade
On June 8, first grade students showed off the books they created during their writing workshop under the tutelage of their teachers Helen Arvanitis, Nancy Cortese, Barbara Guhl and Brenda Perry.
The event started with Media Specialist Beth Willoughby sharing “The Day the Crayons Came Home.” After the story, students shared their stories about the aquarium, the rainforest, space, and a safari to Africa with families and staff members.
Second Grade
Second grade students held their Young Author’s Celebration on June 14. The students used various different poetry styles they learned from their teachers Shari Krauss, Nicole Mundy, Laura Palmer and Melissa Vanraes to create poetry books. They showcased the books to their families and school staff. According to Media Specialist, Beth Willoughby, “it is important for students to understand and learn about the hard work that goes into creating books. When the students create their own works they see first hand how hard it is.”
Third Grade
Illustrator Lena Shiffman visited Faber School on June 1 to discuss the process of book illustration with the third grade students. Shiffman, who won a Christopher Award with her first illustrated book “Keeping a Christmas Secret” written by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor in 1989, also teaches art at Hunterdon Museum of Art, the Somerset Art Association, and Zimmerli Art Museum.
She taught the students about manuscripts, storyboards, and project design. Shiffman also explained how she creates her works and talked about recent projects. Shiffman emphasized the importance teamwork has in being a good illustrator since being a part of the publishing team means having to be flexible and willing to work with everyone. She gave as examples, having to illustrate books with space for the author’s words and sometimes having to change her artwork to meet the publisher’s needs.
The presentation was arranged with funds from the Dunellen PTO and organized by third grade teacher Pat Kime and PTO member Ellen Byrnes.