Ms. Graff even worked in a lesson on similes. She unveiled a power point screen with incomplete similes and asked the children to pick one to finish. Instead of groans, the class responded with a few moments of silence, intent on their writing, and then eagerly shared their similes (which included “the man was as big as the Sears Tower in Chicago” and “her room was as dirty as a swamp with garbage dumped in it”).

Parent volunteer Jeanne Williams summarized the experience by stating, “The students responded positively to Ms. Graff’s good humor and she responded enthusiastically to their input, making this a vibrant visit with a talented author!”