Our Meet the Writers program connects PS 321 students with authors who deliver exciting experiences, which helps to:
Create Engagement Beyond the Classroom
We encourage students to see books not just as assignments, but as gateways to imagination, creativity, and learning.
Make Books More Exciting
We offer students the rare opportunity to interact directly with published authors, creating a personal connection that makes literature more accessible and engaging.
Add Real-World Inspiration
Students see firsthand that authors are real people with diverse paths, which makes the idea of becoming a writer, storyteller, or creator seem more attainable and relatable.
Inspire a Lasting Love of Literature
The memorable experiences we provide spark a long-term interest in reading and writing, often motivating students to pursue personal projects, from writing their own stories to reading more broadly on their own.
If you’d like to support our Meet the Writers program and other PTA-sponsored events, please donate to FUND321. Your generous donations make these programs and events possible.
Last year, we welcomed the following authors to PS 321:
Adam Auerbach is the author and illustrator of Legendary Creatures: Mythical Beasts and Spirits from Around the World, The Three Vikings, Monkey Brother, and the Ezra Jack Keats Honor book Edda: A Little Valkyrie’s First Day of School. His illustrations have appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times.
Adam Gidwitz is the author of the Newbery Honor book The Inquisitor’s Tale, The Unicorn Rescue Society series, and the trilogy, A Tale Dark & Grimm. Adam also tells creepy, funny fairy tales on his podcast Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest. His latest book, Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II, is the thrilling conclusion to the World War II spy duology that began with Max in the House of Spies.
Jessie Janowitz is a writer, lawyer, and lover of doughnuts. She is the author of The Doughnut Fix and The Doughnut King, which were both Junior Library Guild Selections and Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year. Her newest book is All the Ways to Go.
Karina Yan Glaser is the New York Times bestselling author of The Vanderbeekers series. She is also the author of A Duet for Home and The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Poppy Song Bakes a Way. Her newest book is The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli.
Kathryn Holmes is the author of the humorous and heartfelt Class Critters series of chapter books, which includes Tally Tuttle Turns into a Turtle, David Dixon’s Day as a Dachshund, and Madison Morris is NOT a Mouse!
Lisa Tolin is the editorial director of PEN America and the author of How to Be a Rock Star, which was inspired by her older son’s love of music. Her newest book is Can You Imagine? The Art and Life of Yoko Ono.
Matt de la Peña is the Newbery Medal-winning author of Last Stop on Market Street. He is also the author of numerous young adult novels and picture books including Carmela Full of Wishes, Love, Milo Imagines the World, and The Perfect Place. His latest book is Home.
Michael Hearst is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and writer. His most recent project is a four-part nonfiction series, each book geared toward a grand theme. The series includes Unusual Creatures, Extraordinary People, Curious Constructions, and Unconventional Vehicles. Each text includes a companion album, and Unusual Creatures was also made into a PBS Digital series. He is also the co-author of Insect Anatomy: The Curious World of Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, and Bugs.
Nicole C. Kear is the author of the chapter book series The Fix-It Friends, which includes the titles Have No Fear!, Sticks and Stones, and The Show Must Go On. She is also the author of the memoir Now I See You, the middle grade novel Foreverland, and the middle grade series The Startup Squad.
Nina Crews is an author and illustrator whose work includes The Neighborhood Mother Goose, One Hot Summer Day (a Sesame Street Parents ‘Kids Hit’ selection) and Below (an ALA Notable Selection, along with Mother Goose). Her newest book is Liftoff: How the Apollo Moon Mission Made Alma Thomas’s Art Soar.
Ruth Behar is known for her ability to move seamlessly between anthropology and the arts in her writing, teaching, and public speaking. Her books for young readers include Lucky Broken Girl, Letters from Cuba, and Across So Many Seas, which won a 2025 Newbery Honor Book Award.
Stephen Savage is a versatile artist who is known for his award-winning, New York Times bestselling children’s books. His diverse body of work includes Polar Bear Night, Supertruck, And Then Came Hope, and The Babysitter From Another Planet. His newest book is Rescue Cat.