Author visit inspires future teachers at Harrisburg campus

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Best-selling children’s book author Kate Messner recently visited Penn State Harrisburg, sharing tips and inspiration with future teachers about how to inspire lifelong reading through writing and sharing nonfiction for kids.

Messner’s New York Times-bestselling titles include award-winning picture books, easy readers, chapter book series and novels for young readers. Her books are frequently nominated for state book award lists and have been included in best-of-year lists by Kirkus and School Library Journal.

Bernadette Lear, education, behavioral sciences and social sciences librarian at the Madlyn L. Hanes Library, said she invited Messner in order to challenge the attendees’ preconceptions about nonfiction and what it can offer.

“When most people think of ‘children's books,’ they often think of fiction — classic fairytales, bedtime stories or the popular series that kids get hooked on,” Lear said. “In contrast, they often picture nonfiction as dry, factual sources children use for school assignments. ... However, Kate Messner's nonfiction offers us a world that's both enthralling and educational. Whether she's writing about history or science, her books show us there are fascinating stories to be known and questions to ask all around us.”

Lear added that exposure to contemporary authors is important for future teachers, since today’s literature is more likely to portray diverse characters that reflect today’s classrooms.

Messner’s visit was sponsored via a grant from Barnes and Noble Education and was a partnership between the Hanes Library and Teacher Education/School of Behavioral Sciences and Education at Penn State Harrisburg.

Messner offered two presentations at the Harrisburg campus: one tailored for education students and the other for the general public. Through the grant, attendees were able to take home at least two copies of her books for free.

Kira Schaefer, an early education major who is student-teaching in a first-grade classroom, said she appreciated Messner’s energy and passion and learned how integrating books about history can help students become engaged in their own learning.

“I would love to incorporate a lot of her books into my lessons especially when talking about nature and helping students activate their background knowledge when showing them real-world phenomena,” Schaefer said.

Alaina Ort, an early childhood education major, said she found Messner’s visit inspiring, particularly the author’s words on mentorship.

“One key takeaway for me was the idea that mentors can be anyone who influences us, even if they aren’t aware of their role as mentor,” she said, adding that she’s already planning a project about mentors for her future classroom.

Early childhood education major Emma Good said Messner’s talk included many takeaways that are important to current and future educators.

“Teaching our students the importance of having their own voice, finding their own way, doing their own research, and presenting that research in their own way is important. In turn, teaching them to think critically,” Good said. “This is what Kate Messner’s books, specifically her history collection, aim to do, to not only teach about history but to think critically about the history that has been taught.”