Michelle Houts spent the day with seventh grade language arts students at Walnut Springs Middle School, her alma mater.
Michelle Houts, an award-winning author of a dozen books for young readers, returned to Walnut Springs Middle School, her alma mater, on Monday, September 9. She spent the day with seventh grade language arts students, each of whom received a copy of her latest book, Count the Wings, the biography of Charley Harper, a renowned midcentury artist who spent his life reducing subjects in nature to their simplest forms, lines and shapes. He called his work “minimal realism,” a recognizable style of painting that often featured bright colors and garnered rave reviews from fans around the world. Houts worked closely with the Harper estate to include full-color illustrations, plentiful supplemental materials, and discussion questions designed to intrigue and engage young readers. Count the Wings is part of the acclaimed Biographies for Young Readers series.
Houts also treated her young listeners to an audience participation activity that demonstrated steps that happen in the publishing world from the author’s idea to placement of a book in a library or bookstore. The Walnut Springs Library Fund, PTSA, and the Principal’s Fund paid for her visit. Learn more at www.michellehouts.com.