Award Winning Children’s Author and Illustrator Inspires Princeton Academy Students

Practice doesn’t make perfect — it makes progress.

That was just one of the many things the students at Princeton Academy learned from award winning illustrator and author DyAnne DiSalvo on April 15.
 
Each year Princeton Academy welcomes in a visiting author and on Tuesday, DiSalvo came to talk about her trademark theme "helping neighborhoods," which has been featured on the Reading Rainbow show as well as theatre productions. In addition, she talked about her journey to success, revealed little known facts about some of her popular books such as “Sloppy Copy Pick Up” and imparted tricks of the creative trade to the student body.

"Ms. DiSalvo's books focus on building community and helping others, which is in keeping with the Sacred Heart goals and values that we instill in our boys,” explained Princeton Academy librarian Ellen Dowling, who thought the Brooklyn native would be perfect for this year’s author visit.

And as a fan favorite at Princeton Academy, the students enjoyed meeting DiSalvo and learning about her and how they too could write and illustrate books one day. However, DiSalvo was equally inspired. 

"The students end up inspiring me and they reaffirm what I already have in my mind. Everything I tell them is everything I teach myself,” she said, “and my hope is that they listen to their own voices and listen to their own hearts.”