Lake George Elementary School was filled with excitement as the school welcomed children’s author Jerry Pallotta. In anticipation of his visit, the library organized activities for each grade level during lunch, building anticipation for meeting the man behind the books.
Students in Pre-K through second grade participated in a “Who Would Win?” activity. This involved fun, stand-in-place exercises, sparking their imaginations about the animal kingdom. They also put their creative skills to work crafting colorful welcome signs, ready to greet Mr. Pallotta.
Meanwhile, students in third grade through sixth grade took on a more analytical challenge. They dove into Jerry Pallotta’s newest book, “Ultimate Pterosaur,” and filled out prediction brackets, guessing which ancient creature would emerge as the ultimate winner. After reading the book, they compared their predictions to see who had the most accurate insights.
During his visit, Jerry Pallotta shared the story of how his writing career began, recounting how reading to his own children set in motion the idea to create his own stories. “After I wrote one story, I wrote 70 stories about growing up at the ocean,” he shared, also mentioning his book “Read a Zillion Books,” which chronicles his journey starting with alphabet books.
Mr. Pallotta explained that his initial fascination with the ocean fueled his early writing, but his curiosity soon expanded to include other animals. He captivated the students with tales of his childhood growing up by the sea, from selling seaweed to exciting fishing trips for minnows and bass. He even discussed his book “Dory Story,” which explores the intricate food chain where he grew up.
An unexpected trip to Antarctica also became a source of inspiration. Although he didn’t initially intend to write a book about the icy continent, his experiences there led to a new book. He shared video footage of penguins, baby seals, skua, and elephant seals, bringing the Antarctic wildlife to life for the students.
When asked about where he finds his ideas, Mr. Pallotta said that they often come from real life and the things he observes. He described incredible experiences, such as touching a whale and a great white shark, which fueled his popular “Who Would Win?” series. He explained how these books scientifically explore how each animal might prevail in a hypothetical matchup.
The visit from Jerry Pallotta left a lasting impression on the LGES students, creating a deeper appreciation for reading and offering a fascinating glimpse into the creative process of an author.