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!