The first graders at Lake Bluff Elementary had a very special visitor this week. Two-time Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator Sophie Blackall joined the students for a creative time in class. 

During her visit, Ms. Blackall shared insights into her writing and illustrating process, describing where she finds inspiration for her stories. Students watched closely as she gave them a behind-the-scenes look at how a book comes to life, even creating a live drawing right in front of the class. 

Ms. Blackall then read aloud from her book, If We Were Dogs, bringing her characters and illustrations off the page in a magical way by showing the students real photographs of the dogs that inspired the book. To make the time even more memorable, each student went home with a personally signed copy of her book. 

Thank you to Sophie Blackall for sparking the students' imaginations and showing them the joy of storytelling and art. Her visit was a reminder of the power of books to inspire, connect, and bring joy.