Reading Month is finished but the related activities just keep on coming.
Last week two famed children’s authors, Johnathan Rand and Shirley Neitzel, made their way through each elementary school in Clarkston.
Both authors are from Michigan.
Neitzel grew up in the upper peninsula and is a former teacher with 12 titles in print such as ‘The Dress I’ll Wear to the Party,? ‘Our Class Took a Trip to the Zoo,? and ‘The Bag I’m Taking to Grandma’s.? In addition, she has been published in various children’s magazines including ‘Ladybug,? ‘Humpty Dumpty,? ‘Spider,? ‘Child Life? and ‘Guide.?
Rand is a former Michigan radio and television personality and motivational speaker in the broadcast industry. He is the writer and producer of thousands of radio and television commercials which air across the U.S. and Canada. He is the author of the ‘Michigan Chillers? series for children seven to 14. Each mystery takes place in a particular Michigan city such as ‘Mayhem on Mackinac Island,? ‘Terror Stalks Traverse City,? and ‘Kreepy Klowns of Kalamazoo.? Rand has started a new series of books called ‘American Chillers,? such as ‘Michigan Mega Monsters,? ‘Florida Fog Phantoms? and ‘Wisconsin Werewolf,? his latest book.
Jake Sims, a fourth grader at Bailey Lake Elementary said he learned a lot from the authors? visits. ‘I learned to not read just to read, but to be in the story.?
Larry Malace, a fellow fourth grader, was excited to see Rand. ‘I never knew he was in the radio business or on commercials. That’s cool. I’ve read all his books and have all his books (19). I’ve seen him three times: here, at a world premiere of one of his books and at Borders.? Malace had Rand sign a picture that had been taken of he and Rand at a signing at Borders Bookstore.