As part of the libraries’ visiting author program, Viewpoint School was delighted to welcome award-winning author Elana K. Arnold to campus in January 2025. Ms. Arnold spoke to students across three assemblies, engaging audiences in the Primary, Lower, and Middle Schools. She also joined the Middle School Literary Honors Society for a special lunchtime conversation.

A Southern California native, Ms. Arnold is the author of twenty-one critically acclaimed works, including picture and middle grade chapter books, and young adult novels. Her accolades include the Sydney Taylor Book Award, and she has been a two-time finalist for the prestigious National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.

Several of Ms. Arnold’s titles have become favorites among Viewpoint students. Her books have been featured in Primary School book clubs and recommended on library summer reading lists. When students returned to school in August 2024, many shared that Just Harriet and A Boy Called Bat were their favorite summer reads. This enthusiasm inspired the Viewpoint School librarians to invite Ms. Arnold for a visit.

During the assemblies, Ms. Arnold shared how everyday moments from her life often serve as inspiration for her writing. She spoke candidly about how receiving an autism diagnosis later in life motivated her to write A Boy Called Bat, aiming to help classrooms and school communities cultivate greater understanding and empathy for neurodiverse experiences. She also recounted how Pip and Zip - a story about a family who discovers two mysterious eggs during a COVID-era walk - was inspired by her own family's discovery of duck eggs during a socially distanced stroll in a local park.

Students from Viewpoint’s Primary, Lower, and Middle Schools were captivated by Elana’s heartfelt and deeply personal presentation, which offered a meaningful look into her writing process and her experiences as both a parent and an author.