March 7, 2025
South Elementary School capped off an exciting Read Across America Week by hosting a memorable experience for the school's third through fifth graders as children's writer and "Waldameer Mystery Files" series author David Gorman hosted a presentation and book signing session on Friday, March 7, 2025, in the school's library.
SEE MORE PHOTOS: PGCPS on Flickr
Spearheaded by school librarian Ms. Tiffany Maxwell, Gorman began the morning with a presentation, giving students an engaging biographical look into his life, including his roots in Pennsylvania, his books, and his family's ties to the Waldameer & Water World amusement park, where he often draws inspiration for themes within his series of mystery books.
Author David Gorman gives a South Elementary School third grader their book back after signing it during his visit to their school on Friday, March 7, 2025, as part of a morning presentation and signing event. (PGCPS Photo)
Before returning to class, students could line up and have their books signed by Gorman, a unique experience that further connected the content to the human who wrote it. For Ms. Maxwell, Friday's event, which took plenty of planning weeks beforehand to allow for its successful execution, was everything she could've imagined, and more so as she drew upon her own elementary school experiences when conceptualizing the activity.
"Honestly, it was born in fifth grade, for me," Ms. Maxwell recounted. "Ted Arnold, author of the 'Fly Guy' series of books, came to my school after his first book came out, and it really left a lasting impression on me, and I knew, as a librarian, I wanted to make that happen for my students. I brought his book with me to my interview when I met with my principal and shared how this represents what I want to do for my students. I want to get authors in our school so students can see writing and how it comes to life."
Read Across America Week, a national, weeklong event aimed at sharing the importance of reading and inspiring people of all ages to explore the world of literature, was a perfect backdrop for Gorman's visit to South Elementary. However, for Ms. Maxwell and the South Elementary Library, this event was weeks in the making, going back to the school's popular read-a-thon event, where the hype for the expected visit was building thanks to an act of kindness.
Author David Gorman delivers an introductory presentation to the school's third graders during his visit to South Elementary School on Friday, March 7, 2025. (PGCPS Photo)
"My read-a-thon always falls on Valentine's Day, and we love to read here at South," Ms. Maxwell shared. "For their Valentine's Day present, I gifted them the first book in the series, 'The Long-Lost Locket,' three weeks ago to give them time to dig into the book."
The gifted book gave students content to read as part of the read-a-thon event, and, ahead of Gorman's visit to the school, an extra incentive was made where students who read 1,000 minutes or more could join him for lunch in the library. A total of 31 students across third through fifth grade were able to have that unique opportunity with the visiting author.
"This has been a lot of fun and a dream come true for me," Ms. Maxwell detailed. "I saw this experience when I was in fifth grade, and I knew I wanted that for my students at South. I want the students to have that spark, and that's what elementary school is all about - creating that spark. Anyone can learn, but you have to want to."
South Elementary School students wait patiently in line as 'Waldameer Mystery Files' author David Gorman signs copies of his book during his visit to the school on Friday, March 7, 2025. (PGCPS Photo)
To learn more about David Gorman and the "Waldameer Mystery Files" series, visit his website at https://davidwritesbooks.com. The seventh book in the series, "The Hidden Heirloom," has recently been released. For more photos from Gorman's visit, visit the district's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/princegeorgeschools.