Author Study

An author study is a unit of inquiry that allows students the opportunity to delve deeply into an author’s life and body of work. By reading and studying several books created by the same author, children hone a wide range of literacy skills including: critical thinking, book appreciation, analysis, and evaluation.

Children become increasingly familiar with different authors, they begin to personally connect to the writer and the characters they create. Author studies help to portray writers as real people making the task of writing more accessible to students. Reading and studying a body of work by one author helps children to forge a deeper attachment to books, exposes them to a variety of literary voices and styles, as well as inspires and informs students’ writing.