DC Students Meet "Exquisite Corpse Adventure" Authors and Illustrators

Library Event Features
Exquisite Corpse Contributors
Calef Brown, Jack Gantos, Patricia McKissack, Chris Van Dusen, and National Ambassador for Young People Katherine Paterson

Students at Walker-Jones Elementary School in Washington D.C., like many students across the country, are learning about the contributors of  The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, a progressive story game played by 20 of America's most celebrated authors and illustrators for young people.  But in celebration of this year's National Book Festival, five of the book's contributors demonstrated how the story came to life at a workshop hosted by the DC Public Library last Friday. 

An interactive and entertaining workshop at the Northwest One Neighborhood Library featured some of the nation’s most-popular children’s authors and illustrators, including National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Katherine Paterson; Jack Gantos; Patricia McKissack; and illustrators Chris Van Dusen and Calef Brown.  Moderating the discussion with the young people in attendance was Mary Brigid Barrett, also a children's book author and illustrator and founder and president of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance.

The Exquisite Corpse Adventure was originally published on the Library of Congress' website Read.gov as a joint project of the NCBLA and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and is now available in paperback and hardback from Candlewick Press. The Exquisite Corpse Adventure is also available on audio. 

All photos by George A. Williams of the DC Public Library.
From top are:
Photo 1: Mary Brigid Barrett, Jack Gantos, Patricia McKissack,  Calef Brown, Katherine Paterson, and Chris Van Dusen. Photo 2:  Katherine Paterson and Mary Brigid Barrett. Photo 3: Calef Brown. Photo 4: Jack Gantos.
 

Extensive Resources Available for Using The Exquisite Corpse Adventure in the Classroom, Library, and Home

The Exquisite Prompt Redux Writing Challenge from Reading Rockets and AdLit.org provides writing opportunities for students in grades K-12. Learn more at ReadingRockets.org. 

 

Extensive online educational support materials for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure are available on the NCBLA’s Exquisite Corpse Adventure Education Resource Center. Overflowing with supplemental articles, classroom activities, reading lists, art activities, discussion questions, and more, the Education Resource Center is designed for all adults who live and work with young people and have a vested interest in helping kids read more, write better, and create stories and art that expand our universe.

Ask for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure at a bookstore or library near you!

Just Announced! NEW "Exquisite Corpse" Writing Contest from Reading Rockets and AdLit.org!

Teachers, Librarians, Parents, and Students!

Check Out the
Exquisite Prompt Redux Contest

To celebrate the publication of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure (from Candlewick Press in hardcover and paperback. Also available on audio.), Reading Rockets and AdLit.org are reviving their 2010 Exquisite Prompt writing contest in exquisite corpse fashion. This year's writing prompts are inspired by winning student entries from the 2010 contest!

This year's challenge invites you to write the ending to a cliffhanger, a review of a magical object purchased from The Fairy Tale Catalog, a poem in the voice of the Whinoceros, or the adventures of two time travelers!

How to Enter

1. Visit ReadingRockets.org and click on the REDUX link.
2. Find your grade level. All students in grades K-12 can enter!
3. Review the prompt for your grade level.
4. Jump start your imagination and START WRITING!
5. Submit your entry by email no later than November 30. Find the complete rules and submission guidelines on ReadingRockets.org.

Prizes!

Prizes for winning entries include online publication on ReadingRockets.org and collections of books, including at least one autographed title.

What Is The Exquisite Corpse Adventure?

The Exquisite Corpse Adventure is a progressive story game originally published on the Library of Congress' Read.gov website as the foundation of a national reading and writing initiative, created by The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Click here to learn more.

The Exquisite Corpse Adventure contributors are:  M.T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Calef Brown, Susan Cooper, Kate DiCamillo, Timothy Basil Ering, Jack Gantos, Nikki Grimes, Shannon Hale, Lemony Snicket, Steven Kellogg, Gregory Maguire, Megan McDonald, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, Linda Sue Park, Katherine Paterson, James Ransome, Jon Scieszka, and Chris Van Dusen. 

Extensive Educational Resources Available!

Discover a treasure trove of online educational support materials for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure on the NCBLA’s Exquisite Corpse Adventure Education Resource Center. Overflowing with supplemental articles, classroom activities, reading lists, art activities, discussion questions, and more, the Education Resource Center is designed for moms and dads, teachers and librarians, grandparents and guardians—all adults who live and work with young people and have a vested interest in helping kids read more, write better, and create stories and art that expand our universe.

Ask for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure at a bookstore or library near you!

To order The Exquisite Corpse Adventure from the bookseller of your choice, click here.

2011 National Book Festival Another Smashing Success with Book Lovers!

Thousands Gather on National Mall to Celebrate the Love of Books at This Year's National Book Festival!

Exquisite Corpse Adventure Authors and Illustrators Mesmerize Kids in Opening Children's Event!

This past weekend marked the eleventh annual celebration of reading and books known as the National Book Festival, an event attended by Americans of all ages from across the country. Once again opening Saturday's events in the Children's Pavilion were authors and illustrators from the NCBLA's national reading and writing initiative known as The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, a progressive story game originally published on the Library of Congress' Read.Gov website and published last month in paperback and hardcover by Candlewick Press.

Performing a dramatic reading of excerpts from The Exquisite Corpse Adventure were the exceptional talents of Mary Brigid Barrett, Calef Brown, Susan Cooper, Jack Gantos, Gregory Maguire, Patricia McKissack, Fredrick McKissack, Chris Van Dusen, and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Katherine Paterson!

Be sure to check our blog and NCBLA facebook page regularly to find the link to the LOC's webcast of this exquisite performance, to be posted in October.

Read all about this year's festivities in the School Library Journal article "More than 200,000 Book Lovers Attend DC National Book Festival" by Rocco Staino, Contributing Editor. More information is available in the news article "An Estimated 200,000 Attend the Library of Congress' 2011 National Book Festival." 

All photos above by Rocco Staino. Pictured from top are: Photo 1: Pat and Fred McKissack, Photo 2: Susan Cooper and Gregory Maguire, Photo 3: Chris Van Dusen, Photo 4: Calef Brown and Jack Gantos. 

Ask for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure at a bookstore or library near you!

Check out the NCBLA's extensive educational resources for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, which include supplemental articles, classroom activities, reading lists, art activities, discussion questions, and more, on our Education Resource Center.

To purchase a copy from the bookseller of your choice, click here.

COUNTDOWN to the National Book Festival!

Exquisite Corpse Adventure Authors and Illustrators to Open National Book Festival in the Children's Pavilion THIS Saturday, September 24, at 10:00 AM

STARRING

Mary Brigid Barrett, Calef Brown, 

Susan Cooper, Jack Gantos, Gregory Maguire, Patricia McKissack, Fredrick McKissack,
Chris Van Dusen, AND
National Ambassador
for Young People's Literature
Katherine Paterson!

 

The National Book Festival is an annual event  organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress. This year's festival will be held TWO days:
Saturday, September 24
from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, and Sunday, September 25
from 1 to 5:30 PM. The festival is FREE and open to the public.

The NCBLA invites book lovers of all ages to join us for our dramatic reading of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure at 10:00 AM Saturday in the Children's Pavilion, located on the National Mall east of 12th Street, just north of the Smithsonian Castle.

 

Meet Exquisite Corpse Presentation Authors and Illustrators!

Following the Exquisite Corpse presentation, you can meet your favorite authors and illustrators and learn more about their other amazing books at their solo presentations and autographing sessions throughout Saturday and Sunday!

Mary Brigid Barrett is signing her picture book Shoebox Sam Saturday at 11:30 AM. 

Calef Brown presents his book, Boy Wonders, Saturday at 12:05 PM in the Children’s Pavilion. His autographing session is Saturday at 1:30.

Susan Cooper presents her book series, The Dark Is Rising, Sunday at 1:00 PM in the Teens Pavilion. Her autographing session is Sunday at 3:30.

Jack Gantos presents his book, Dead End in Norvelt, Saturday at 12:45 PM in the Teens Pavilion. His autographing session is Saturday at 2:30.

Gregory Maguire presents his book, Out of Oz: The Final Volume in the Wicked Years, Saturday at 11:50 AM in the Fiction & Mystery Pavilion. His autographing session is Saturday at 1:00.

Patricia C. McKissack presents her book, co-authored with
Fredrick L. McKissack and John McKissack, Cyborg: The Second Book of The Clone Codes, Sunday at 3:45 PM in the Teens Pavilion. Pat and Fred are autographing Sunday at 2:00.

Katherine Paterson presents her book, The Flint Heart, Saturday at 11:50 AM in the Teens Pavilion. Her autographing session is Saturday at 1:00.

Chris Van Dusen presents his book, King Hugo’s Huge Ego, Saturday at 1:00 PM in the Children’s Pavilion. His autographing session is Saturday at 2:30.

Learn More!

To learn more about the national reading and writing outreach initiative The Exquisite Corpse Adventure and the NCBLA's companion educational resource site, click here!  

For complete information about the National Book Festival, including a schedule, site map, and a list of all participating authors, click here!