Children's Author and Illustrator Jim Arnosky Visits Marple Newtown's Elementary Schools

From May 16-19, popular award-winning children's author and illustrator Jim Arnosky stopped at each of the elementary schools for a day filled with reading, sing-alongs and signings.

The Vermont-based author was raised in Malvern, PA, and attended high school in Philadelphia. Some of his fondest memories from the area, though "remote," are of then Lancaster Pike or Route 30 now and a field of cicadas by his home.

"My memories growing up in the area are from the smell of the woods, the seasons, and catching frogs," recalled Arnosky.

Although he wasn't technically trained in music and the arts, Arnosky picked up the guitar when he was younger "to get the girls" and drawing and painting seemed to come rather naturally for him.

"My father was an artist and I used to draw for him ," said Arnosky. "I became a writer much later."

Arnosky notes he became a writer rather by chance. After walking around Hawk Mountain in Kempton, PA, every day for 10 miles, Arnosky said he began writing his observationis from his trips in a journal which turned into stories.

His main goal is to build a sense of adventure in all of the 123 books he has written and painted himself. "I wanted to build a yearning for the kids to go and find those places," he said.

And, sometimes, Arnosky brings more than a sense of adventure in his books but also a survival guide in nature.

"I think I taught more children how to fish or fly fish than any other author," chuckled Arnosky. "I broke it down and de-mystified it."

Arnosky's books have covered animals from rattlesnakes and raccoons to lions and birds. His next book will involve sea life and reef creatures which may come out later this year or sometime next year.

Arnosky is a recipient of the Christopher Medal, Orbis Pictus Honor, ALA Gordon Award, and Outstanding Science book awards from National Science Teachers Association.

Editor's note: Patch popped in to Jim Arnosky's visit to Russell school on May 18. View the video and photos that were captured during his time there.