Children’s book author visits Baker School

Children’s book author and illustrator Barbara McClintock visited George C. Baker School on Dec. 6. McClintock has won four New York Times Best Book Awards, a New York Times Notable citation, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor, and numerous other accolades. She is best known for her classic illustration of Jim Aylesworth’s “The Gingerbread Man” and her “Adele and Simon” series. McClintock gave three presentations to the Baker students in which she talked and drew about her life and the many inspirations for her work. The Baker Bears had been studying her books for the last month-and-a-half under the direction of Baker School Library Media Specialist Ann Ferruggia. They had many questions for McClintock, ranging from where she got the inspiration to draw her characters in old-time settings to why she uses the watercolor medium. The children especially enjoyed McClintock’s stories about her cats and their antics while she attempts to write and draw. McClintock autographed each and every one of the almost 400 books bought by Baker School students.

“My students told me that they were inspired to write more and to try to find something to do in life that they can enjoy as much as McClintock obviously enjoys writing and illustrating,” third grade teacher Anne Ross said.

Thanks go to the Baker Home and School Association and Baker principal Shelly Rowe for their support of this educational program.