This week I am thrilled to celebrate a very special visit from author/artist/poet/word-wizard/snail-inventor, the amazing Calef Brown! To say that we adore Calef Brown’s art and poems is an extreme understatement. We are ultimate fans! So much so that we have been working on creating what we have come to call Calef Brown Land: a world on our outside bulletin board that features creatures, flying machines, flora and fauna inspired by Calef’s work.
Calef’s book Dragon, Robot, Gatorbunny was the inspiration for many of these pieces 
We started drawing . . . 
And then we painted 
Creatures and such were cut out and collected. 
And then the building of Calef Brown Land began. 
It was admired š 
Because it is AMAZING! Full of whimsy, vibrant colours and all kinds of joyous charm. 
And then, today . . . Calef Brown, himself, was coming to visit! Books were ready (check out the top row) 
The schedule was set. 
Welcome signs were made. 
And then, we heard the shouts, “Calef Brown is here! He’s here!”
Staying in the room and calm went quickly out the window. Because today was the day! We got to visit with Calef Brown!
Sharing the mural was pretty special. 
But having Calef Brown share with us . . . Well, now, that was just full of wow! We talked about syllables and favourite words. Rhymes and near rhymes. List making. Word savouring. Rice paper. Tones. Inspiration. Silly. Colours. End papers and treasures under the book jackets. We got to ask lots of questions and found out many things like which came first – the poem? the word? the illustration? (Never the chicken or the egg in case you were wondering)
We watched Calef read poems (perfectly) upside down. And . . . recite multiple poems from memory. Most of his poems are stored in his head and he shared them with us, when the time was right, on multiple occasions. 
When the students had their recess break, Calef made each one a special note. (Yes, he really did this! I witnessed it!)
He also gifted a signed copy of his newest book Hypnotize a Tiger to our school. 
Calef got a little peek at my students doing what they do best: losing themselves in books! His books, of course, flew into hands and were shared together or devoured individually. 
In the afternoon, students got a peek at their individual notes. Lots of smiles all around š 
This week I celebrate Calef Brown’s generosity, creativity and time. His visit was very special for us, confirming our knowledge that book makers – readers, writers, artists extraordinaire are magical. They make the world extra everything! Thank you Calef Brown! This was a morning for the very important memory files. Filed under . . .
wordy wanderings
art meanderings
kindly offerings
Same Ā number of syllables inspiration Ā š
Thank you to Ruth Ayres and the #celebratelu community! Being part of a community that regularly shares gratitude and celebrations truly transforms my weeks. 
There's a Book for That 
Your class always inspires, Carrie, but this is an extra-special post. I love hearing about the visit, but really love the students’ special “Calef Brown” art the most. The bulletin boards are wonderful to see.
Those boards represent all of the amazing process leading to putting it together – many afternoons of drawing and painting and just calm and happiness in the room.
What fun to see that wonderful blend of art and whimsey created by your students! I was not familiar with Calef Brown until a sixth grader introduced me to him. This is truly an experience your students will always treasure. I agree with you – book makers are the true magic makers. Our world will always need them!
Magic makers indeed. And often they have buckets of kindness attached to their creativity. Lucky students when we get to meet someone like Calef Brown in person.
Wow! Just WOW
I know! Lots of wow š
What an incredible experience for you and your students! I love how you included the before, during, and after the visit activities. Your words and pictures told a beautiful story!
Many thanks. We had been looking forward to this visit for a while! There is a lot of excitement in the leading up to time . . . š
As always your posts make me intensely happy. This one is profound! These moments will live with your students forever! Kudos to you and to Calef Brown. What powerful literacy work this is.
Thanks so much Julieanne – it was really special. Calef Brown is very wonderful on many levels!
Love the pictures! What a great experience for your students!
It really was!
This is way bigger than amazing and exciting and wonderful. I think the word hasn’t been invented yet for this kind of experience. Celebrating together with you and your students!
Thank you Terje! We are all very lucky to have experienced it all – the lead up, the visit and now the savouring of the memories:-)
I LOVED everything about this post! Such joy from learning and creating together and then to share this experience with the author himself! This is something you, your students and Calef Brown will remember forever. Among your MANY talents and gifts – you should add “magic memory creator” to your list!
Well, that is very sweet. Calef Brown is a pretty amazing man. His kindness on this day meant a lot to us. We so enjoy his work!
This post is full of Wow! I love the art your students made. I’m sure Calef Brown enjoyed every minute.
Thank you! I think it was happiness all around.
“Mindful breathing.” A good reminder — especially when there’s such joy and creativity and celebration ahead. THIS is what school should promote — this investment and depth of getting lost and found as readers, writers, explorers of wonder.
Many thanks Nancy! We are very lucky to be very committed to our creative selves and to have Calef Brown be such a special part of things!