Kindergarten students at Usher Collier-Heights Elementary talked face-to-face with children’s book author Jonathan Emmett, Wednesday, as he sat thousands of miles away in his office in the
Author Jonathan Emmett has been nominated for the 2013 Georgia Picture Storybook Award for his popular children’s book, The Princess and the Pig.
United Kingdom, thanks to Skype. Emmett has been nominated for the Georgia Picture Storybook Award for his popular children’s book, The Princess and the Pig.
The kindergarteners have been reading books by Georgia Picture Storybook Award nominees as part of the Georgia Children’s Book Award Program. Each year, twenty books are chosen by a nominating committee made up of teachers and media specialists across the state of Georgia, and the students will read all twenty of the nominated books before voting for their favorite.
The famous author read to the kindergarteners during his virtual visit to Usher-Collier Heights.
One of the frontrunners is The Princess and the Pig.  During their virtual meeting with Emmett, the Usher-Collier students asked the author probing questions about himself, the writing process, and the story itself. The experience gave them the opportunity to learn about the time difference between the U.S. and the U.K. as well as the opportunity to learn a bit of culture.  They were so excited after their Skype visit, they even asked if visiting the U.K. was next on the agenda. Emmett was very impressed with the level of questions posed by the students and said that they asked questions he had never been asked before.
Usher-Collier Heights media specialist Debbie Vassell Mitchell said the students are enjoying the diverse selection of books selected by the nominating
The students probed Emmett about himself, Â the writing process and his book, The Princess and the Pig.
committee, and are having a wonderful time experiencing each book.
“It will be very difficult to select the best book, but this has truly been a great experience for all parties involved,” Mitchell said. ” Usher Collier-Heights Elementary students are excited to take part in the election process, and are excited to see if the book that “wins” at our school will be the state winner as well.”
Submitted by Debbie Vassell Mitchell, Media Specialist, Usher-Collier Heights Elementary School
