The students at Washington-Monroe School had a chance to meet local author Susan Kirby.

One of the reasons Kirby spoke to students at the school was to encourage them to use their imagination to write stories. She told students  that if they want to read, it will give them ideas for new stories of their own. A bulletin board in the school's front hall exhibits names of student who have read to the principal.
 

Pictures by Marla Blair

Local author Susan Kirby, from McLean, created a display of some of her books in the library at Washington-Monroe Elementary School on Thursday. She has written several children's books, most using history as a background and people she knows as reference for characters.

Susan Kirby's grandson, Bryce Watkins, is a fifth-grade student at Washington-Monroe Elementary School.

Third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students filled the school's library on Thursday, to listen to Susan Kirby tell about her writing experiences and how she develops ideas for her stories.

Ms. Ewing, fifth-grade teacher at Washington-Monroe, introduced Susan Kirby to the students. Ms. Kirby has written over 40 books, and over half of those are for children.

Susan Kirby displayed some items she has collected that are related to characters or belongings discussed in her books. She has written an American Quilts series, which includes stories based on historic material.

Ms. Yeazle, Washington-Monroe principal, announced the names of book winners, chosen from a random drawing of students in third to fifth grade at the school.
 

Ms. Yeazle, principal at Washington-Monroe, spoke with fifth-grader Kevin Rhoades, one of the book winners, as he accepted his book from Susan Kirby. Kevin is friends with Ms. Kirby's grandson, Bryce Watkins.

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