WEL Families & Caregivers,

The West Elementary School Readers and Writers Conference is an annual tradition that celebrates and honors authors, illustrators, musicians, and literacy leaders here at West Elementary. Originally founded by former WEL principal Liz Roos, WERAWC continues to welcome some of the most talented authors from across the country — and in some cases, from around the world.

This special event features guest speakers, hands-on workshops, assemblies, a bookmark contest, and performances and presentations by our Grade 5 Student Council. It is a joyful celebration of literacy, creativity, and student voice.

This extraordinary experience is made possible through the generous time, talent, and volunteerism of our school’s PTO and community partners. We are deeply grateful for their continued support.

Please take a moment to explore some of the invited guests who will be joining us for this year’s event.

Best,
Dr. Cobbs

Eddie Cortés is a youth motivational speaker who has spent the past 20 years helping kids believe in themselves, build resilience, and chase their dreams. His work is inspired by his own story. When Eddie was in middle school, someone told him he wasn’t good enough to reach his dream of playing baseball for the New York Yankees. Those words hurt deeply and made him stop believing in himself, which affected his choices at school and in life.

Today, Eddie teaches students that they are “braver than they believe, stronger than they seem, and smarter than they think.” Through his fun and interactive school assembly, I’M POSSIBLE, Eddie visits elementary and middle schools across the country to help students learn how to handle challenges, bounce back from mistakes, and keep trying even when things feel hard.

Eddie’s energy, humor, and storytelling keep students laughing, thinking, and cheering as they learn. He encourages every student to do hard things and never give up on their dreams. Eddie’s recent book “I’m Possible: A Kid’s Guide to Building Resilience” offers humor, relatable stories, and hands-on activities to inspire resilience.

Shawn Peters is a children’s author who loves telling funny, adventurous stories with lots of heart. His books often feature brave kids, big challenges, and the power of friendship, kindness, and believing in yourself.

Shawn wrote the adventure book The Unforgettable Logan Foster and its sequel, which feature a brave, funny, neurodivergent hero with an amazing memory. Through the character Logan Foster he spreads the message that “some people’s brains work a little differently—and that’s a good thing!”

Before writing books, he wrote all kinds of stories, like magazine articles, TV ideas, and ads—but his favorite stories now are the ones he shares with young readers. Shawn hopes his books make kids laugh, think, and feel proud of what makes them special.

Karim Nagi is an award-winning musician, dancer, and storyteller who brings Arab culture to life through music, rhythm, and movement. An Egyptian immigrant to the U.S., Karim blends traditional Arab instruments and dance with modern sounds and storytelling to create exciting, interactive performances for all ages. He has performed and taught around the world, from major universities like Harvard and MIT to hundreds of school assemblies across the country through his Arabiqa program. A TEDx speaker and former faculty member at the New England Conservatory of Music, Karim’s work helps audiences explore culture, creativity, and connection through the arts. His programs are energetic, educational, and unforgettable. He is also the brother of our very own West Elementary 5th grade teacher Ms. Mohammed!!!

Carrie Finison writes children’s books with humor and heart that are fun to read aloud. Her books include Dozens of Doughnuts and the sequel, Plenty of Pancakes; Don’t Hug Doug, an ALA Notable Children’s Book; Even Steven: A Book About Sharing; Lulu & Zoey: A Sister Story; Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School; Pigs Dig a Road; and Touch a Truck Day, a lift-the-flap board book. In addition, her poetry for children has been published in magazines including High Five, Ladybug, and Babybug. When she’s not writing, Carrie enjoys reading mystery novels, trying new recipes, and curling up on the couch for family movie nights.

Chris and Maureen Harrington are the proud parents of Ivy, a determined dog whose real-life journey inspired their award-winning children’s book, “Ivy, the Very Determined Dog.” After Ivy became paralyzed from a genetic condition at three years old, Chris and Maureen searched for ways to help her live a happy, full life. Day by day, Ivy grew stronger and more determined. Two steps on two paws turned into running on two paws (sometimes with a little help from her wheels!).

As they shared Ivy’s progress on Instagram, people around the world were inspired by her courage and positivity. Seeing the powerful impact Ivy was having, Chris and Maureen knew her story needed to be shared with children. They spent years turning Ivy’s true story into a book that shows students that challenges and setbacks can make us stronger, and that anything is possible when you believe in yourself. Ivy’s story reminds us all to never give up and to believe in ourselves—even when things feel hard.

Ellen Crenshaw is a cartoonist and illustrator who lives on Massachusetts’ North Shore. She creates fun and exciting graphic novels for kids, including the New York Times bestselling Baby-sitters Club graphic novel adaptations Stacey’s Mistake and Kristy and the Walking Disaster, with more adventures coming soon in Jessi Ramsey, Pet-Sitter.

Ellen also co-created Kiss Number 8, an award-nominated graphic novel, and loves telling true stories through comics. Her first nonfiction graphic novel, What Was the Turning Point of the Civil War?: Alfred Waud Goes to Gettysburg, brings history to life through illustrations and storytelling.

Officer Thomas Paolera is the School Resource Officer at Andover High School. A 2008 graduate of AHS, he works with his K-9 partner, Maggie, to support students and staff. Officer Paolera is active in community events, mental health awareness, and recently wrote a book called “Officer Maggie: The Police Comfort Dog.” This book was illustrated by an AHS student, Senior Olivia Horvath.

Ryan Bani Tahmaseb is a teacher, librarian, and author who loves helping kids become readers and writers. He started writing books because he wanted to show his students that writing takes practice—and that everyone has a story to tell.

Ryan writes picture books and middle grade books inspired by family stories and Persian myths and legends. His book Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen is based on a true story from his father’s childhood. When he’s not writing, Ryan enjoys visiting schools and encouraging students to read boldly, write bravely, and share their ideas with the world.

Ryan also writes stories inspired by Persian folklore and mythology, including an upcoming middle grade book, Persian Mythology, which introduces readers to a vibrant world of myths and legends.

Through teaching and writing, Ryan loves inspiring students to read widely, write bravely, and share their own stories with the world.

The annual Book Mark Creation Contest is a legacy activity at WEL. Students are encouraged to create an original bookmark that represents self, reading and WEL Pride. All student creations will be celebrated and displayed around our building.

To participate, please refer to the following submission guidelines! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PuKk9IVBIxcYxHI5tvr0B9l217yvR6MedHflAlVHnNM/edit?tab=t.0