Author Inspires Second Graders To Create Story Ideas Of Their Own

RYE, NY — Elementary students in Westchester had a unique chance to encounter a muse at a tender age.

From the Rye City School District .

Second graders at Milton Elementary School welcomed children’s author Audrey Vernick for an inspiring and interactive visit on May 5.

During her presentation, the students explored how authors develop ideas and discussed the challenges of free writing. Vernick encouraged them to draw inspiration from their own experiences and the world around them, then guided them through a brainstorming activity to help them generate ideas for their own writing. In addition, Vernick read aloud her book “I Won What?” and shared how a simple idea can evolve into a full story. Throughout the visit, the author discussed the inspiration behind several of her other books and encouraged the students to stay creative and persistent.

As part of the experience, the second graders gained insight into the writing and publishing process, learning how perseverance plays a key role and how authors often face rejection before achieving success. The visit concluded with a question-and-answer session, giving students the opportunity to engage directly with the author.

Special thanks to Milton School librarian Barbara Mehlman for making the event possible. The learning experience reflects the district’s Rye Commitment by fostering creativity, encouraging student voice and supporting meaningful learning experiences that inspire curiosity and growth.

This press release was produced by the Rye City School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.