This April 18 at Simonds Elementary School in Warner marked the 20th Annual MainStreet Warner, Inc. Literacy Day.

This year was especially exciting for students and staff, as the visiting author was award-winning Cynthia Lord, the author for their all-school read for the year, “Because of the Rabbit.”

All students had read the book, prepared their classrooms for her arrival, and were well-prepared by their teachers to hear her talk with them about how the book was created. After her presentation, which included her easy short-cut to writing an effective story, each student received one of her signed books.

The MainStreet Warner, Inc. Literacy Project has become an endearing collaboration between the non-profit MainStreet Warner, Inc., local bookstore MainStreet BookEnds and the community elementary school. Initiated in 2005, well-known children’s authors and/or illustrators have visited the children to discuss their work and their motivation.

The students receive one of their books, and exposure to excellent writers and artists from the New Hampshire area, having demonstrated through their books their impact on the lives and literacy of children across the country.

Past visiting authors/illustrators include Steven Kellogg, Maxine Kumin, Barry Moser, Mary Lyn Ray, Jim Arnosky, Caldecott Award Winner Beth Krommes, David Ellliott, Giles Laroche, MacArthur Fellow David Carroll, Ralph Fletcher, True Kelley, Maryann Cocca-Leffler, Lucinda McQueen and Matt Forrest Esenwine.

This year’s community partnership between MainStreet Warner, Inc., Simonds Elementary School, and MainStreet BookEnds was made possible through the generous donations from the Simonds PTO, the Kearsarge Regional School District, the Nancy Sibley Wilkins Town of Warner Trust Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and MainStreet BookEnds.