Author tells Pine Island students they are his inspiration to write

Pine Island - Every year, Pine Island School has a day to give an author the recognition he or she deserves. This year, on April 28, Pine Island hosted author Tim Tocher, who has written all kinds of books. He has written “Girls to the Rescue,” “Newfangled Fairy Tales” and “Long Shot.” He also wrote “No More Homework,” “No More Tests,” “If Kids Ruled the School” and “Kids Pick the Funniest Poems.” As a kid, Mr. Tocher loved language arts in school and to read and write stories. He claims that if it was light out, he was playing ball, and if it was dark out, he was writing. Mr. Tocher’s favorite book that he has written is “Chief Sunrise, John McGraw & Me.” His favorite book by another author is “Manhunt” by James L. Swanson. His role model, however, was Roald Dahl, the children’s book writer who has created such characters as Willy Wonka and Danny, the Champion of the World. Mr. Tocher says his inspiration comes from seeing kids enjoying his books, which makes him try more. He has always wanted to be a writer and has been writing for 12 years. When he first got a book published, he says he was “very excited“ and it was “a great feeling.” The kids at Pine Island School say that reading a book by him now that they have met him will be “funny.” Most of the kids in the school hadn’t read any of his books yet, but they said that now they probably will. One kid exclaimed that “it was a cool, funny experience and he is a smart, funny author.” So this annual event benefits everyone. Both the author and the kids get inspiration to keep writing and maybe someday some of them will be coming back as authors on Author’s Day. Michael Fox is a student at Pine Island Elementary. He filled in for Eddie Wood, The Warwick Advertiser’s cub reporter, for this assignment because Eddie was under the weather the on Authors’ Day.