Author visits Stewart Manor

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Stewart Manor School students recently enjoyed an artist workshop with award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Chris Soentpiet.

The visit, sponsored by the school PTA’s Cultural Arts Committee, coincided with Parents As Reading Partners, a program taking place at the school during March.

Multiple assemblies were held where Soentpiet offered students insight on his creative process. The author-illustrator, a recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work and others awards, also had lunch with K-6 class representatives and led an artist workshop for fourth-grade students.

At lunchtime, students had the opportunity to ask the author questions about his personal and professional experiences. During the workshop, the children used watercolors to create a portrait of technology assistant Nicole Termini, using many of the techniques modeled for them by Soentpiet.

Prior to the author’s visit, librarian Paulette Kolchin read multiple books written and illustrated by Soentpiet to the students, enabling them to become familiar with his realistic illustrations.