2015 Miami Book Fair
Generation Genius Authors
Final Report
Generation Genius Authors has encouraged reading in students of all ages for more than 25 years by connecting local students with authors of popular children’s books. The goal of the program is to cultivate an interest and passion for reading by showing students reading can be fun, introducing them to popular authors and sending them home with free books (often signed by the authors) to help create their own personal libraries. Numerous studies prove students who master reading and writing are much more successful throughout their academic career than those who don’t. Giving students the opportunity to meet authors – and getting to keep their books – helps create a joyous connection between children and reading for pleasure. Children get to see that the authors are people just like them. Building self-esteem and belief in their own abilities and possibilities is just one intangible and fundamental way this program helps children. Each year, we strive to improve and grow the program. This year, for the first time, we incorporated Teen Press Conference into the Generation Genius Authors program. The Press Conference was modeled after the successful event held at the National Book Awards each year. During the Teen Press Conference, middle- and high-school students played the role of reporters as they directed questions to the finalists for last year’s National Book Award in Young People’s Literature: Becky Albertalli, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda; Steve Sheinkin, Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War; Neal Shusterman, Challenger Deep; and Ilyasah Shabazz, X: A Novel. In 2015, Miami Book Fair hosted 28 Generation Genius Author sessions for 6,173 Miami-Dade County elementary, middle and high school students from 120 schools over the course of two days. Additionally, we brought authors to 32 local schools, reaching an additional 2,311 students unable to attend the Book Fair and also conducted two writing workshops.
/miamibookfair
In total, 8,484 students participated in this year’s events. Below is a breakdown of the number of students who participated in both the on-campus and off-campus sessions. Elementary
Middle
High-School
Total
Students at On-Campus Author Sessions
1,700
2,444
2,029
6,173
Students at Off-Campus Author Sessions
603
1,203
505
2,311
TOTAL # OF STUDENTS
2,303
3,647
2,534
8,484
Some successes from last year’s program: • 120 schools from South Florida participated – 88 at on-campus and 32 at off-campus sessions. This represents approximately 1/3 of all schools in Miami Dade County plus schools from Broward County. • 4,643 books were given away to students – 3,683 at on-campus and 960 at off-campus sessions.. • 1,532 students were transported to campus via 34 buses all from Title 1 schools. At both the on-campus and off-campus sessions, students also had the special opportunity to meet with authors following the sessions and have their own book signed. This year, we conducted a pre and post online survey of students as well as collected feedback from teachers. Five hundred and fifty (550) students completed the pre survey and 273 students completed the post survey giving us a strong sample size. Please see Appendix C for a more complete overview of the survey. Student feedback indicates they enjoyed the Generation Genius Author sessions and the Book Fair as a whole; and that the Miami Book Fair inspires kids to love books and reading. For example, 87% of students said they would love to come back to the Miami Book Fair next year; 23% already returned over the weekend with their families to share the book fair with them; and, nearly half of students who got a book at the book fair had read it within a week. Teachers and chaperones report positive experiences showing appreciation for the Generation Genius Author Sessions, free books, and commenting on the high engagement levels of the students. Author feedback on the sessions was also very positive.
Students at Ridley Pearson’s session
2015 Generation Genius Authors by the numbers:
2,303 3,647 2,534 elementary students
middle school students
high school students
8,484 students
120 schools
34
busses
4,643 FREE books for students
The 36 participating authors in this year's program included: High School Authors • Victoria Aveyard, Red Queen • Michael Buckley, Undertow • Ryan Graudin, Wolf by Wolf • Carl Philippe Juste & Luis Rios, Havana and Haiti: Two Cultures, One Community • Peter Kujawinski, Nightfall • Congressman John Lewis & Andrew Aydin, March: Book #2 • Conor McCreery, Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #1 • Daniel Raven-Ellison, National Geographic Kids Mission series • Kate Schatz, Rad American Women A – Z Middle School Authors • Dave Barry, The Worst Class Trip Ever • Ali Benjamin, The Thing About Jellyfish • Max Brallier, The Last Kids on Earth • Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Moving Target • Paul Durham, The Luck Uglies #2: Fork-Tongue Charmers • Peter Lerangis, Seven Wonders #4: The Curse of the King • Adam Mansbach & Alan Zweibel, Benjamin Franklin: Huge Pain in My… • George O’Connor, Olympians #7: Ares, Bringer of War • Ridley Pearson, Kingdom Keepers #1: The Return • Margi Preus, The Bamboo Sword • John Rocco, Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes • David Teague, Connect the Stars • Maris Wicks, Human Body Theater • Raina Telgemeier, Sisters • Liniers, Macanudo #2 Elementary School Authors • Melissa De La Cruz, The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants • Gitty Daneshvari, The League of Unexceptional Children • Nicholas Gannon, The Doldrums • Corey Ann Haydu, Rules for Stealing Stars • Ian Lendler, The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Romeo and Juliet • Obert Skye, The Creature from My Closet #5 • Dav Pilkey, Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot (Book #12)
Appendix A: Participating Schools We had 8,484 students from 120 schools participate in this year’s Generation Genius Authors program. Additionally, 77 of the 120 (65%) schools were title 1 schools. Below is a listing of the participating schools: On-Campus Program American Senior High Academy for International Education (AIE) Charter ASPIRA Raul Arnaldo Martinez Ada Merritt K-8 Center Barbara Hawkins Elementary Aventura Waterways K-8 Bel-Aire Elementary Bob Graham Education Center Biscayne Elementary Christina M. Eve Elementary Booker T. Washington Senior High School Coral Gables Senior High Bowman Ashe Doolin K-8 Coral Reef Montessori Academy Carol City Middle School Crystal Academy Center for International Education Design & Architecture High Dorothy M. Wallace COPE Center Glades Middle Florida City Elementary GW Carver Elementary Greenglade Elementary Holy Cross Lutheran Christian Hialeah Gardens Middle School iPreparatory Academy Hialeah Gardens High School JANE S. ROBERTS K-8 CENTER Hialeah Middle School Key Biscayne K-8 Center Hialeah Senior High Schoo Miami Arts Charter School Holmes Elementary Miami Beach Senior High School Horace Mann Middle School Miami Lakes K-8 Center iTech Senior High Pinecrest School John F. Kennedy Middle School Pompano Beach Middle School
John G. DuPuis Elementary Somerset Academy SoMi Jose de Diego Middle Somerset Dade Kelsey Pharr Elementary Somerset Middle LBA Academy Charter High Sunset Elementary Lincoln-Marti Charter School Little Havana Campus Treasure Village Montessori Mater Lakes Academy Virgina A. Boone Highland Oaks Elementary Maya Angelou Elementary School Florida Unschoolers (Home) Miami Community Charter High Lindsay Home School Miami Community Charter Middle SchoolMucklow Home School (Home School) Miami Edison Sr. High Ortiz Home School (Home School) Miami Gardens Elementary Anonymous Home Schoolers Miami Norland Senior High Miami Northwestern Senior High Miami Springs Middle School Miami Springs Sr. High Natural Bridge Elementary North Miami Middle School North Miami Beach Senior High Ojus Elementary School Orchard Villa Elementary Palm Lakes Elementary Phillis Wheatley Elementary Poinciana Park Elementary Redondo Elementary Rockway Elementary School Rockway Middle School Scott Lake Elementary Shenandoah Middle SLAM (Sports Leadership and Management Academy) Somerset Academy Silver Palms
South Miami Senior High The Seed School of Miami West Miami Middle School William H. Turner Technical Arts WJ Bryan Elementary School
Off-Campus Program Norland Elementary Joella Good Elementary Hialeah Elementary Sunset Park Elementary Sweetwater Elementary W.R. Thomas Middle Shenandoah Middle Ruben Dario Middle West Miami Middle Lawton Chiles Middle Richmond Heights Middle Rockway Middle North Miami Middle Madison Middle Bowman Ashe Doolin K-8 Ponce De Leon Middle Miami Arts Studio 6-12 Hialeah Gardens Senior High Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High American Senior High Southwest Miami Senior High Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Senior High Pinecrest Elementary Coral Gables K-8 Eugenia B. Thomas K-8 Highland Oaks Middle MAST Academy Miami Killian Senior High Miami Beach Senior High Southpointe Middle
Appendix B: Free books given to participating students: On-campus Author Sessions: QTY
AUTHOR
TITLE
80
Victoria Aveyard
Red Queen
125
Dave Barry
The Worst Class Trip Ever
100
Ali Benjamin
The Thing About Jellyfish
50
Michael Buckley
Undertow
80
Gitty Daneshvari
The League of Unexceptional Children
200
Melissa De La Cruz
The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel
25
Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Moving Target
240
Nicholas Gannon
The Doldrums
125
Ryan Graudin
Wolf by Wolf
50
Corey Ann Haydu
Rules for Stealing Stars
80
Peter Kujawinski
Nightfall
80
Ian Lendler
The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Romeo and Juliet
140
Peter Lerangis
Seven Wonders #4: The Curse of the Ring
300
Congressman John Lewis & Andrew Aydin
March: Book #2
125
Adam Mansbach & Alan Zweibel
Benjamin Franklin: Huge Pain in My…
80
Conor McCreery
Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #1
150
George O’Connor
Olympians #7: Ares: Bringer of War
350
Ridley Pearson
Kingdom Keepers #1: The Return
700
Dav Pilkey
Captain Underpants and the Sensatioal Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot
85
Margi Preus
The Bamboo Sword
250
Kate Schatz
Rad American Women A - Z
100
David Teague
Connect the Stars
National Book Foundation Teen Press Conference: QTY
AUTHOR
TITLE
27
Becky Albertalli
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
42
Ali Benjamin
The Thing About Jellyfish
36
Ilyasah Shabazz
X: A Novel
36 Steve Sheinkin
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War
27
Challenger Deep
Neal Shusterman
3683 Total Books Distributed at Book Fair
Appendix B (cont’d): Free books given to participating students: Off-campus Author Sessions: QTY
AUTHOR
TITLE
60
Victoria Aveyard
Red Queen
30
Dave Barry
The Worst Class Trip Ever
60
Max Braillier
The Last Kids on Earth
60
Gitty Daneshvari
The League of Unexceptional Children
60
Paul Durham
The Luck Uglies #2: Fork-Tongue Charmers
60
Nicholas Gannon
The Doldrums
60
Ryan Graudin
Wolf by Wolf
60
Corey Ann Haydu
Making Pretty
60
Peter Kujawinski
Nightfall
60
Ian Lendler
The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Romeo and Juliet
60
Peter Lerangis
Seven Wonders #4: The Curse of the Ring
30
Adam Mansbach & Alan Zweibel
Benjamin Franklin: Huge Pain in My…
90
George O’Connor
Olympians #7: Ares: Bringer of War
60
Ridley Pearson
Kingdom Keepers #1: The Return
60
Margi Preus
The Bamboo Sword
30
John Rocco
Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes
60
Obert Skye
The Creature from My Closet #5: The Lord of the Hat
960
Total Books Distributed at Off-campus School Sessions
4,643
Total Books Distributed at both on- and off-campus author sessions
Appendix C: Student Survey Results Survey Highlights:
• 87% of students said they would love to come back to the Fair again. • 53% of students were attending for the first time; 23% of the students returned during the weekend with their families. • 16% of students read only one book for pleasure in the previous month; 10% had read none. • Nearly half (43%) of students said they have less than 10 books in Students with Connor McCreery their home. • Just over half (55%) of participating students received a free book. • Over 90% of students either plan to or have already read the book they received • 70% of students said they discovered a new author at the Fair.
Here Are a Few Comments: “We were exposed to so many wonderful books and authors that it peaked our interest in so many ways to seek out more...” “Maris Wicks was great and had a funny way to discuss the Human Body” “DAV PILKEY, I have never heard him before and I fell in love with his books”
Students on a field trip
“I liked all of the author presentations because they introduced me to new authors and new books I could read at home and at school”
Student Comments on Their Favorite Author Sessions: “My favorite author presentation was John Lewis and March Book 2 because it was inspiring, it was motivational, and I learned something new.” “I loved Dave Barry’s presentation. He was very funny and I really want to read the book now.” “Victoria Averyard was incredible in sharing her story with us. She was realistic and I felt that I can relate to her because she went through trials and tribulations in order to accomplish her main goal.”
Additional Feedback From Teachers:
Greater Miami Youth Symphony
“Ridley Pearson was very entertaining and engaged the audience. As a teacher I liked that he motivated the students by telling us about the need to write several drafts before achieving a piece worthwhile of submission.” “Dav Pilkey’s presentation was the best presentation ever!! I love how he talked about what he was like when he was little and all the struggles he went through! Also he was so generous and gave all of us $1000 to buy books for our classrooms!! Amazing! “The presentation with Congressman John Lewis was probably the best presentation my group had ever been to. The Congressman was able to speak to the students about issues of democracy and civic action which was the best part.” “Students’ and parents’ were very interested for “next year.” There were so many wonderful things for the kids to take in but the best experience was the talk by the author and the book signing (of the free book). It was such a “grown up” experience for the students and I can’t tell you how many of them came back “inspired” (their words) to be authors.”
Students enjoying their books
Student Survey (Graphs and Charts):
Sponsor recognition and more fun with Generation Genius Authors
Dav Pilkey with the 18 teachers to whom he personally gave each $1,000 gift certificates to Books & Books to purchase books for their classrooms
Learning about world cultures in One World, Many Stories
Students getting books signed by Melissa de la Cruz
Event promotion example
Book label example
Learning is fun in Children’s Alley
Event signage example