Author Visits

Mat Heagerty — March 2025

Author and illustrator Mat Heagerty (Lumberjackula, Unplugged and Unpopular, Indoor Kid and more) presented to all students in grades K-5. He spoke with us about challenges and strengths in learning disabilities, the importance and power of collaboration, the publishing process, and about his life. He also delighted the students and staff alike with his illustrations created through collaboration with student ideas. His presentation was possible thanks to a grant from the Hayes School PTO.

Alex Thayer — February 2025

Alex Thayer is the author of chapter book Happy & Sad & Everything True and the upcoming book Bad Cheerleader. She spoke with grades 4-6 about her early life as a young writer and actor, and the process of developing ideas for her writing. She also lead the students through an engaging writing activity to get them started on a story of their own.

Andrea Beatriz Arango — February 2025

Andrea Beatriz Arango is the author of Newbery Honor Book Iveliz Explains It All and the Pura Belpré Honor Book Something Like Home. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Andrea became a teacher there then spent a decade in the United States working in public schools and nonprofits. She joined grades 5—8 on the day her latest book, It's All or Nothing, Vale, was released. Andrea was able to come to us with support from the Harvard Book Store.

Shaina Lu — December 2024

Shaina is a Boston-based, queer Taiwanese-American artist interested in the intersection of art, education, and activism. You can see her public art throughout Boston’s Chinatown where she works, and in Malden where she lives. Shaina has worked in the education field since 2012, both as a public school teacher and as a program director in a community-based organization. As an educator, Shaina develops project-based learning experiences for young artists to draw knowledge and inspiration from their communities and to use art as a tool to effect social change. Shaina presented to grades 6—8 about the process of getting her book, Noodle & Bao, published, shared about her inspirations, and drew some illustrations inspired by students' suggestions.

Cindy L. Rodriguez — October 2024

Author, editor, and former teacher, Cindy L. Rodriguez spoke with grades 2-5 about her picture book Three Pockets Full and chapter book Lola Reyes is so Not Worried. Students heard about the writing and editing process, traditional Latino heritage, and Cindy's experience as an author. 

Amanda Foody — June 2024

Amanda Foody is a New York Times, USA Today, and indie bestselling author of fantasy novels, including the All of Us Villains duology, the Wilderlore series, The Shadow Game series, and more. Foody spoke with grades 4 and 5 about her experiences as an author and getting published. She also helped each one of them create their own fantasy world, characters, and stories in an engaging creative writing activity.

Marcie Schwartz — November 2023

Author and educator Marcie Schwartz came to share her book, When Someone Deeply Listens to You, with grades 1 and 2. She lead the students through fun activities that helped them learn about kind words and write poems about how it feels when someone deeply listens to what you have to say.

Jerry Craft — October 2022

We were lucky to host bestselling author and illustrator Jerry Craft to speak with grades 5—8. Jerry wrote and illustrated the incredibly popular graphic novels New Kid, School Trip and Class Act which have won numerous awards including the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award. Craft visited us thanks to the help from the Todd Saker Fund and the Brookline Education Foundation.