Launched in 2005, MainStreet Warner’s Literacy Project aims to help elementary school students become more accomplished and appreciative readers. Not only does the Literacy Project encourage children to read, it also gives students the opportunity to meet distinguished authors and illustrators. Every year, MSW invites a children’s author and/or illustrator from New England to visit Simond’s Elementary School. The authors and artists share stories about their lives and interesting details about their craft, and students have the chance to ask the luminaries questions before receiving their own autographed copy of the author’s featured book.

This year marked the 20th Annual MSW Literacy Day at Simond’s Elementary School, featuring award-winning Cynthia Lord, author of the 2024 all-school read, Because of the Rabbit. Since all of the students had either read her book themselves or had her book read to them, they were especially excited to meet Cynthia. Like the novel’s hero, students painted inspiration rocks and placed them outside the school building to greet the author. Cynthia also loved seeing all the classroom doors decorated by students and teachers, who were inspired by different images and themes in her work. A former teacher, Cynthia skillfully engaged students of different grade levels with her anecdotes about how she came to be a writer and her tips about how to write a story. At the end of her lively presentation, Cynthia handed out a signed copy of one of her books to each student. Kindergarten and 1st Graders received Hot Rod Hamster and the Wacky Whatever Race! 2nd and 3rd graders received Book Buddies, and 4th and 5th graders received Home Away from Home.

Generous donations from the Simonds PTO, the Kearsarge Regional School District, the Nancy Sibley Wilkins Town of Warner Trust Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and MainStreet BookEnds contribute to making this memorable event for students possible.