With the YE Experience, I thought it was incredible! I am so so thrilled that you were able to come and share this with the kiddos. I think it was especially impactful with the timing that we were able to do it. In first grade, we spend a lot of time discussing
"what is an author/illustrator?
What do they do?".
We talk a lot about the differences between the two roles and how they work together and how they are sometimes even the same person. So to see someone who IS one of those roles helped them see it in a more tangible way, I believe.
As we work on our classroom anthology, I think it was also super cool for them to see what they are doing is something that real authors do as well and that can be a potential career path for them one day. I love how inspiring you were with them about not letting people tell them that it is not something they can do or achieve, that they are capable of anything they put their mind and hard work to-which is a message I try to set into them often. (Honestly, it was nice to hear even as an adult! I have been working on a rough draft of a book that I want to maybe put out into the world someday, so it was super inspiring to see and hear from someone who HAS done it!)
I loved the story that you chose to share and that each child in the room found a way to connect with it one way or another, whether it be an experience they had at the aquarium themselves, hearing their favorite animal mentioned, or even just getting to experience an adventure with a loved one. I think it was extra special that the main character in the story was one of their peers!
When I realized Valiyah was the little girl in the story, it made my heart swell up and even made me a little emotional! How special! I think the kids loved hearing about the process of working with the illustrator to create the images in your books. I'm sure it was inspiring to those students who may have big ideas, but don't feel as confident in their own artistic skills, or even vice versa! Plus, it was just a very cool thing to listen to and learn about when trying to imagine what goes into making a book.
I adored the Q&A experience and how it allowed individual students to express their curiosity and get their own questions answered. I love how it let them dig more into the different aspects of the story as well as the process that went into making it. It gave students the opportunity to speak out and participate in conversation- even some of the students who aren't typically ones to raise their hands!

Overall, I found the entire experience to be wonderful! I thought it was super educational, inspiring, and impactful for both the students and the adults in the room. I cannot thank you enough for coming by and sharing your time, work, and heart with us. I am eternally grateful!