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Author tells Naperville kids to make a difference

Kindness is just as important as multiplication tables.

Caring is just as significant as proper sentence structure.

And learning to help others - even in small ways - is just as meaningful as mastering any academic subject in school, said Ninette Mathena, a third-grade teacher at Longwood Elementary in Indian Prairie Unit District 204.

Third-graders at Longwood go through a unit on making a difference each fall in which they contribute to a schoolwide food drive for Loaves and Fishes Community Services and make a public service announcement about the importance of providing food to those in need.

This year, the unit got a boost with a visit from author Katherine Applegate, who won the 2013 John Newbury Award for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children for her book "The One And Only Ivan."

Applegate's most recent work, a children's novel called "Crenshaw," focuses on themes of friendship, family, resilience and the benefit of small acts of kindness.

Applegate presented to 1,000 third-graders in District 204 - not just those from Longwood - during a recent stop at Peterson Elementary in Naperville.

She talked about "Crenshaw," a story in which the friendship of a large, imaginary cat helps a boy through tough times as his family struggles financially. Mathena said the kids found her presentation engaging and the story relatable.

"In 'Crenshaw,' the situation with the boy is his family is down on their luck," Mathena said. "A lot of families do experience that."

As Mathena reads the book aloud to her students, she's teaching them to understand the challenges their peers might be enduring at home. The story is teaching them how to help.

"We can help them by doing something as small as a smile in school, just any small act of kindness," she said.

The book is an addition to other stories that also focus on the value of being a good friend as teachers focus on social/emotional learning alongside academics.

"We have several books that illustrate that idea of how one small act of kindness has a positive impact on others and it inspires them to pay it forward," Mathena said.

Hearing how "Crenshaw" came to be also enriched the unit on making a difference for this year's students, who might gain more confidence in their writing after hearing from someone who writes for a career.

"They get excited about where the ideas came from," Mathena said. "Meeting the author, you get more insight into the ideas behind the story."

After speaking to District 204 third-graders during the school day, Applegate presented in the evening at Prairie Elementary in Naperville Unit District 203. Anderson's Bookshop hosted her as one of dozens of visiting authors this year.

  Third-graders in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 listen to author Katherine Applegate during a unit on making a difference. Applegate discussed lessons about friendship, resilience and the benefit of small acts of kindness that are part of her new book, "Crenshaw." Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Author Katherine Applegate addresses 1,000 third-graders in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 during a recent visit to discuss her new book, "Crenshaw." Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
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