North Adams Transcript
WILLIAMSTOWN -- An annual celebration of reading and writing at Williamstown Elementary School will kick-off its 14th year on Friday.
Jessica Dils, co-organizer of the festival, said Words are Wonderful, which will run Oct. 14-22, is a great way to kick off the school year in the fall.
"It inspires kids and shows them true role models in people who are passionate about writing, reading and song writing," she said.
This year, James Preller, author of the "Jigsaw Jones" mystery series, will meet with students in preschool through sixth grade during the school day on Friday, Oct. 21, and then be available to sign books at 3 p.m. after school.
Preller, whose visit is sponsored by the Friends of the David and Joyce Milne Public Library, will also visit with students at Lanesborough Elementary School on Wednesday, Oct. 19, and seventh and eighth grade students at Mount Greylock Regional High School on Thursday, Oct. 20.
Preller, a resident of Delmar, N.Y., has also written, "A Pirate's Guide to First Grade," "Six Innings," and "Bystander."
Dils said they're really excited about Lanesborough being a part of the Words are Wonderful festival for the first time.
"It's a nice community bond that will hopefully continue in the future," she said.
She said Ellen Boshe, principal of Lanesborough Elementary School, had contacted her in the spring to talk about the Words are Wonderful
"We thought we'd start out in a smaller capacity by sharing an author visit, and then seeing how it goes. I think it will be fun, not only here in Williamstown, but in Lanesborough as well," Dils said.
Each school is handling its own funding for Preller's visits, she said.
Ben Gunderheimer, also known as "Mister G," will be the opening act for Words are Wonderful on Friday morning, showing students how lyrics can be paired with different musical styles to invent a powerful form of communication.
He will then lead a workshop in songwriting for fourth-graders, according to a news release about the festival.
Throughout the week, students at Williamstown Elementary School will have the opportunity to participate in the staple activities of Words are Wonderful, including Scrabble Night, Word Play Saturday, the Williamstown Youth Center's Word Jamboree and the costume parade.
Actress Andrea Wright Barrett, will also return on Monday, Oct. 17, with her show, Books Alive!, and the Parent-Teacher Organization's Scholastic Books Fair will open on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Dils said two new activities this year are a treasure hunt for preschoolers based out of the Milne Public Library, and "Movin' Muscles Movin' Minds," a program created and sponsored by Williamstown Physical Therapy.
For more information about Words are Wonderful, and a complete list of events, visit the festival's website at www.
wordsarewonderful.org.
To reach Meghan Foley, email mfoley@thetranscript.com.
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