This week, Pleasant Valley 4th-6th grade students are getting inspired by a special guest — bestselling author Dan Gemeinhart! Thanks to the generous support of our PTAs, who fund our annual Visiting Author Series, Dan is spending the week visiting all PV elementary buildings to share his love of storytelling and the writing process.
At Forest Grove Elementary, students were captivated as Dan spoke about the power of persistence and imagination. Teacher Librarian Mrs. Honn shared, “Forest Grove students had the incredible opportunity to have Visiting Author Dan Gemeinhart speak to them about how every big dream starts small—just like a story. We never start out as the fastest, the smartest, or the best… but we need to be absolutely terrible at giving up.”
Dan’s message connected perfectly with Pleasant Valley’s spirit of perseverance and growth. Before becoming a full-time author, Dan spent 13 years as an elementary school teacher-librarian in Washington state, where he loved sharing “awesome books with awesome kids.” His journey—from writing for ten years before publishing his first book to now inspiring students across the country—reminds young readers that every great story takes time, heart, and courage to tell.
Forest Grove students enjoyed hearing about Dan’s adventures, his writing process, and the inspiration behind his many beloved books, including The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, The Honest Truth, and Good Dog.
Photos from Forest Grove Elementary