How does pie for breakfast sound? Ask our students in junior kindergarten through grade 2, and you might get a resounding “perfect!” That’s because some of our youngest Spartans have paged through “Pie for Breakfast,” a colorfully illustrated children’s cookbook by author Cynthia Cliff. Ms. Cliff, whose popular picture books include “The Wild Garden” and “A Day at the Museum,” visited Steward on November 18 to chat with these happy readers.

The students’ excitement was palpable when they walked into the Lora M. Robins Theatre and saw some of Ms. Cliff’s book illustrations on a giant screen onstage. Spotting characters from “A Day at the Museum,” a playful story packed with whimsical illustrations, students were wide-eyed and smiling. “There’s Pepin!” [a blue dog in “A Day at the Museum” that is “hiding” on many of the pages], exclaimed a student, pointing to the screen.

Lower School Librarian Carlee Smith, who collaborated with local bookstore bbgb to bring Ms. Cliff to Steward, was thrilled with the students’ lively response to meeting one of their favorite writers. Mrs. Smith also teamed up with Lower School Visual Arts Teacher Emily Wolfe to create combined literature-and-art lessons in conjunction with Ms. Cliff’s visit. 

“Students love the variety of personalities in Ms. Cliff's books,” said Mrs. Wolfe. “JK-second graders developed their own unique characters inspired by her work. Students used cutting and measuring skills to layer paper, creating pieces that reflect their personalities.” The colorful artwork was on display onstage during Ms. Cliff’s presentation. 

Ms. Cliff greeted students by asking, “Guess what I saw in the grass as I was walking into the theatre? A white squirrel!” She went on to share photos of her earliest illustrations, many of which included bears and horses, and said that her lifelong love for animals informed her career. “I like to draw pictures that tell stories,” she said, adding that she started drawing at age five. “Who likes to draw and tell stories?” she asked, and dozens of hands went up. 

Ms. Cliff’s “A Day at the Museum” is filled with illustrations but has no words. “Even without words, a book can tell a story!” she exclaimed. She walked students through her writing process for the book, from research (“I visited museums, watched the people in them, and drew them”) to character development. “I used photos of my friends and acquaintances for character ideas,” she added, pointing to photographs on screen side by side with the illustrations they inspired her to create. 

Following her presentation, some of the students headed for the Lower School library, where they joyfully looked through some of Ms. Cliff’s books.

“Author visits add an important dimension to the reading experience,” said Mrs. Smith. “Students learn that a beloved author isn’t abstract, but a real person who worked hard, made mistakes, and persevered. Collaborating with Mrs. Wolfe, I prioritized finding someone who is primarily an illustrator. I wanted students to see someone who has made a career in books with art. Our young readers were absolutely delighted to meet Ms. Cliff.” 

Mrs. Wolfe noted, “Bringing all of the students’ artwork together got the students excited to learn about each other. We are building a strong community of creative thinkers who appreciate and encourage diverse thinking.”