A day of stories, laughter and creativity with author Kev Payne

Last Friday, our ECC and Elementary students had the special treat of spending the day with British author and illustrator Kev Payne!

Through storytelling, workshops and lots of laughter, Kev inspired students to see that anyone, at any age, can become a writer and creator. Our youngest learners in ECC and Grade 1 loved hearing Mole Wants a Hat, singing along to rhyming songs with Kev on his ukulele, and laughing during a playful puppet show featuring characters from his newest book. “His sessions were incredibly interactive, engaging, and educational,” shared Ms. Angel, our school librarian who helped make this special visit happen.

As the day continued, Grades 2 and 3 explored poetry performances and the “Gross & Ghastly” workshops, learning how to turn fascinating facts into creative writing. “Kev taught students how to research and create their own fun facts in a way that was simple, memorable, and full of laughter,” Ms. Angel added.

Grade 4 and 5 students took it even further. In the “Book in a Day” workshop, our fifth graders walked through the full process of writing and publishing a book, from story development to cover design to illustrations. “Kev’s easy-to-follow steps made the whole process simple and approachable. Students were so excited and can't wait to try with their own creations” said Ms. Angel.

Throughout the day, both students and teachers shared very positive feedback. Kev’s energy, imagination and creativity left a lasting impression. Many students—especially our English language learners—now see reading and writing as something fun, exciting and possible.

We are so grateful for Kev’s visit and the encouragement he sparked in our young writers and artists. Thank you, Kev Payne, for making stories come alive at International School of Qingdao!