Famous Children’s Book Author
Will Visit Rochester School

The Rochester School PTO will bring famous children’s book author and illustrator, Robert Blake, to the school Monday, May 19 at 9 a.m. This event is being held in conjunction with the elementary schools in Hancock, Granville and Stockbridge, and parents of students in the participating schools, as well as home-schooled students and their parents, have also been invited.

PTO board member Lesley Straus will have copies of some of Blake’s books on hand, including "Akiak," "Togo," and his newest title, "Swift," which may be purchased at a discount. Blake will also autograph them, if that is requested in advance.

Blake was born in Springfield, N.J., and while in high school, studied art with Carroll Jones Jr. After high school, he attended the Ringling School of Art in Florida and then graduated from the Paier School of Art in Connecticut. Later, he also studied at the Art Student's League in New York City. After art school, he worked making art for filmstrips for the Listening Library, newspapers (Daily Record, Observer Tribune), phonics sheets (Macmillan Ed.), textbooks and young adult book covers.

Blake, who has also made a lot of fine art paintings and has continued to study art, said he believes "the most important part of my education has come from keeping sketchbooks. I draw and write in a sketchbook every day."

In 1979, Blake made his first picture book, "The Spider’s Dance," and that was it—he was hooked.

"It seemed to me that picture books were the most creative form of art around," Blake said. "I was hooked and so, since 1979, I have been busy making picture books. They are fun to make. I get to travel all over the place, to hear stories, to write stories and meet lots of interesting people, and I have been lucky enough to win many awards."

The teachers and students are very excited about Blake’s upcoming visit, and one student in teacher Lisa Cruikshank’s class has already written to Blake at his website and received a reply. The school and town libraries have "Akiak" and "Togo," both of which received multiple awards, in their collections.

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