Cheer Day, Chase Day, Gonna Have a Race Day!

Last Tuesday, I went Downeast with Island Readers and Writers and spent the day with the 100+ K-8 kids at Milbridge Elementary School. The 6-8th graders had read Touch Blue, and the 8th grade even had a lobster bake!



For most schools that would be an expensive celebration, but many of these kids are lobstermen or sternmen themselves or have family members who fish. So all the lobsters were donated.

And I presented on Hot Rod Hamster with the K-5th graders. Here I am with the youngest group, When I get to the page of Hot Rod Hamster where the big dogs tease Hamster, I have the kids make all the faces with me. In this photo, I've asked them to show me their best "stare face."

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Island Readers and Writers gave a free copy of Touch Blue to all the 6-8th graders,

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And Hot Rod Hamster to every 2-5th grade student, and I signed them all.

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Scholastic graciously sent each K-1 student a page of Hot Rod Hamster stickers (though this part of the story will have a sequel that I will tell you another day).

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It was exciting for the kids and for me. 

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Now, for the hilarious part of this visit. . .

The school bought a real, live hamster as a school pet in honor of my coming, and they named it "Hot Rod Hamster." As a surprise for the kids, I bought him one of those hamster-wheel cars.

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But when I saw him, he was a HUGE hamster (you can see him in the bottom of the cage here).




And I wasn't even sure if he'd fit!



But he did--and he loved it!





So after letting him practice in the gym, the young kids lined the school hallway outside their rooms and cheered as Hot Rod Hamster raced past, back to his home in the 4th-5th grade room.



I was joking with Michelle from Island Readers and Writers that I had given all that great writing advice in my sessions, but the hamster zooming down the hallway in his new car would be all kids would be telling their parents about at supper.

But of all the photos taken that day, this one is my favorite. The joy on their faces reflects the whole day for me.

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Thank you to Island Readers and Writers (and to Michelle for the photos!), Milbridge Elementary School, Scholastic, and Hot Rod Hamster for a fabulous, fun day!