The 6th and 7th grades at the Andrews and McGlynn middle schools were visited by the award-winning artist and author Raul the Third. Raul Gonzalez is the illustrator of the middle-grade graphic novel series, Lowriders in Space. He is also the author and artist of a new book series called Vamos!, the first book in the series Vamos! Lets’ Go to the Market will be available in the spring.
Through words and pictures including live drawing, Mr. Gonzalez shared his own story of how he became an artist and author. The smell of books and the blast of air conditioning are the two things he remembers vividly the first time his mother took him to the public library when he was a young child. This is where he discovered books and the power of words and pictures as a form of expression. The librarian encouraged him to draw about the stories he was reading and this sparked an interest in drawing that would continue through his childhood. Even today, his illustrations and his stories are based on the things around him, and his characters are based on the people in his life.
Mr. Gonzalez encouraged students to tell their own stories about the people and places around them. He reminded students that everyone has a story which is unique and important to share.
The author visit was a part of the middle school reading challenge, Reading Without Walls. Reading Without Walls encourages students to expand their worldview by reading books about characters and topics beyond their usual choices. Students are asked to read books from three categories: with characters unlike themselves, about a topic they are unfamiliar with, and in a genre/format they don’t normally read.
Middle school students can still participate in the challenge. Find more information at the Reading Without Walls website.
Thank you to the Medford Educational Foundation for their generous support of the author visit and the Reading Without Walls program.