Author Visit Delights Kindergarten Class

RIVERHEAD, NY — Kindergarten students at Riley Avenue Elementary School welcomed a very special guest recently.

Librarian and media specialist Amelia Estevez-Creedon‏ invited author Philip Pecoraro to share his book "Peanut Butter and Pickles" with the class during their library time, a release from the Riverhead Central School District said.

And the day was filled with fun and a break from the normal classroom routine.

"Normally, students must raise their hands and respond one person at a time," a release about the day said. "However, Mr. Pecoraro asked for Ms. Estevez-Creedon's permission to allow the children to respond to his questions and reading without having to do so. Hesitantly, Ms. Estevez-Creedon agreed, but added, with a grin, 'Good luck.'"

After a short introduction, Pecoraro, who lives on eastern Long Island with his wife and two children, read his book, "Peanut Butter and Pickles", to the children.

"The book, which was illustrated by his son, Nicholas, when Nicholas was only 15, is about a dad and his kids, on their own for lunch, trying to decide what kind of sandwich to make," the release said.

The children loved the story, "shouting out their own favorite sandwiches before they even found out what kind of sandwich the kids in the story would choose," the release said, with favorite sandwiches including peanut butter and jelly and bologna and cheese.

"After the reading, the kindergartners got a chance to make paper puppets and decide what was on their sandwiches. These young students could fill a book with their own crazy sandwich choices," the release said.

Photo courtesy of Riverhead Central School District.