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Children’s author visits Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School

Photo by Michael Erb Author Kathy Brodsky visited students at Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School Thursday, talking about her various children’s book and how she finds inspiration in everyday things.

PARKERSBURG — A children’s author spoke to students at Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School Thursday, talking about her work, her inspiration and reading from her books.

Kathy Brodsky, a graduate of Marietta College, returned to the area this week for her graduating class reunion, but took the time to visit students at the Catholic school.

Brodsky is a psychotherapist and award-winning author of children’s books. Brodsky’s books have won multiple awards, including Book of the Year from Creative Child Magazine in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016. She was also voted into the Top 10 in the International Literacy Association and Children’s Book Council’s Children’s Choice Reading List.

Brodsky told her students about her various books, all of which use simple words and rhyme to tell a story, but also often contain deeper meaning.

“A Catfish Tale” is a story of a cat and penguin who team up to take care of some fish.

“Stover” is about a pig who works out.

“The Winner Is” tells the tale of a dog who sets out to win a cat-competition.

“High Wire Act” is about a traffic light that accidentally travels around a city.

Brodsky said while the books are intended for younger readers, each also includes questions at the end designed to make older readers think about the characters and themes of each book.

“There are a lot of messages in my books,” she said.

Brodsky has been writing for 16 years, and encouraged the students to find their own stories.

“I’m inspired by things I hear, by things people tell me,” she said. “You never know when you might read something, or hear something, or see something,” to inspire you.

Principal Kevin Simonton said the school was thrilled to have Brodsky speak to the students.

“It’s always nice to extend the curriculum out into the public, so the students can see actual people who do the things we teach about every day,” he said.

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