Author Visits Bring Inspiration to Briarcliff

Award-winning author Peter Lourie has braved the mountains of Ecuador, explored the mysteries of the Maya, navigated the Hudson River in a canoe and more.

His adventures, chronicled in his many books, came alive for Todd Elementary School fourth-graders during his recent visit. He told students to remember, “Good writing is detailed writing.”

Lourie is among the authors and illustrators who visit the Briarcliff Manor School each year, thanks to the general support of the PTA.

Another recent visitor was Author and Illustrator Tad Hills, who wowed kindergarten and first-grade students with his artistic portraits – he demonstrated how making the slightest changes in a character’s eyebrows can alter the viewer’s perception of what that person is feeling.

“Eyebrows are very expressive,” he said.

During his visit, Lourie showed fourth-graders the recorders and cameras he used to capture details while doing research, and the voluminous pages of notes he took to create one of his books. He also shared that he did 10 drafts of one book before even handing it into his publisher.

“When you explore something, you really get to love it,” he said.

Photo Captions:

Peter Lourie: Award-winning author Peter Laurie inspired fourth-grade students at Todd Elementary School in Briarcliff Manor with his adventurous books.

Tad Hills: Author and illustrator Tadd Hills shared some of his writing and illustrations with kindergarten and first-grade students at Todd Elementary School in Briarcliff