On Feb. 11 New York Times best-selling author Chris Grabenstein addressed grades three through eight at Whitby School. Grabenstein was promoting his 2016 publication Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics and Scholastic sponsored his visit to the school.
Instead of a traditional author talk, Grabenstein featured his improvisational comedy background to co-create a story with youth in true ComedySportz style. Together, Grabenstein and the students drafted a fictional story about a Harvard Educated squirrel with strong feelings about Donald Trump. Grabenstein emphasized that striving for perfection in a first draft stifles creativity and the joy in the writing process.
After the school assembly, Grabenstein used his background as a successful Advertising Executive to coach seventh grade students on their flash fiction drafts. Grabenstein concluded his visit with a book signing.
