On October 6th, Whittier had the privilege of being author Gary Gray, Jr.’s first US stop on his tour to celebrate the release of his book, “I’m From.” Wildcats across grades gathered into two sessions on Friday to welcome and learn from Gray, a celebrated author and 3rd grade teacher. Armed with decidedly traditional clipboards and paper, composition books, and pencils, Whittier scholars were asked to notice, explore, and express through guided prompts and Gray’s sharing of his own history.

Gray’s literary work and presentation blended drawn and lettered art; two disciplines students often experience simultaneously but consider contextually different. By exploring expression as written and/or drawing, Gray’s playful presentation encouraged students, regardless of writing or drawing abilities, to express themselves. The presentation touched on a bevy of topics, from representation to writing as expression to the publishing process, and students were invited to draw, shout, ask questions and provide opinions. Wildcats made stick figure superheroes come alive with capes and quickly scribbled paragraphs of poems. With an emphasis on expression, Gray expertly paired the idea of having a “problem” (like, in his history, representation) with what to do about it.

Gray shared his own vulnerable history, including childhood photos and experiences, to help students safely explore the power of representation and words. Sprinkled in with comments about getting glasses and loving ice cream cake, real work to think through representation happened on the Whittier’s linoleum cafeteria floor on that Friday morning, letting Wildcats sit with the question of whether they, too, should make their own stories.

Thank you to the Whittier PTA, Principal Watters, and Gary Gray, Jr., for making this author visit possible not only at Whittier, but also at nearby school Viewlands Elementary. Go Wildcats!