The TASIS School in Dorado Home and School Association has achieved another milestone establishing the Visiting Author Program. This program provides a special opportunity for students to meet a published and recognized author who will not only read from her books and explain her writing process but also sign copies of her published work for students to keep. The school’s first guest author, Pam Muñoz Ryan, is an exciting, prolific and highly awarded children’s author. She visited TASIS Dorado on Friday, January the 17th at 10:00 am. She addressed the students, presented a slide show description of the writing and editing process and read one of her books.

Pam Muñoz Ryan has published over 20 books for young people almost all catered to an audience from ages 4 to 8 years. Several of her books have won awards such as the ALA Notable Book Award, American Booksellers’ Book of the Year Finalist and IRA’s Teachers Choice. Her book Esperanza Rising won the Pura Belpre Medal, the Jane Addam’s Peace Award, an ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults, the Americas Award Honor Book and was one of five finalists in the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

Several of her books have been incorporated into the TASIS Dorado curriculum in various classes. When Marian Sang is a harmonious introduction to the life of Marian Anderson, best known for her historic concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, attended by more than 75,000 people in pre-Civil Rights America. This is an excellent example of historical children literature. Keith Woodfin, the school’s music teacher, discussed this book in the music classes and played Marian Anderson recordings for the students. The book was also discussed in relation to the Core Virtues Program on “courage” that TASIS Dorado developed during the month of January, since what emerges from Marian Anderson’s life is a role model of courage.

The Field Trips Committee coordinated a trip to the Dorado Beach East Livingston Park so that students could see one of the model planes and the Clara Livingston hanger from which Amelia Earhart flew This trip was designed to motivate students to read and discuss the book Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride which is marvelous tale of two of the most admired and respected women of all time, Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt and their adventurous flight together!

Mud is Cake is a celebration of children's games. Mice and Beans, was the book Pam Muñoz Ryan chose to read aloud for the TASIS Dorado students. In this book she says: "My grandmother lived in a tiny house and we all happily squeezed into her tiny kitchen, which was often fragrant with enchiladas and red mole, and of course rice and beans”. This book is available in Spanish and in these classes students prepared a piñata for that day to celebrate this story. Hello Ocean describes a young girl's journey through discovery of the ocean treasures; Esperanza Rising eloquently portrays the Mexican workers’ plight giving voice to those who have historically been denied one. Monica Caldaris, a third grade Spanish teacher has been reading this book to her students. The Crayon Coloring Book correlated nicely with the art and math classes in the Pre-elementary program. In addition to illustrating colors it teaches students to count by twos in two different ways.

The students at TASIS Dorado were really excited with their first Visiting Author and many have been researching her books and her life in the internet. The young readers were most excited when Ms. Ryan did a book signing session after her presentation. Students, parents and children had a wonderful time with Pam Muñoz Ryan. They will never forget meeting her and reading her books.

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