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Be sure to check out the Homeschoolers page
For ideas on how to use Penny & Rio books in your classroom!
What Schools are Saying about Penny and Rio:
My second graders loved Penny and Rio and the fact that it is an “easy” chapter read; the animal characters made a lasting impression. The students are now requesting chapter books similar in style to Penny and Rio. Great job!
Robin T. Brown, MLS
Media Specialist, Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School
Oct 2009
Jennifer Swanson recently visited Merrill Road Elementary School during our annual Literacy Week. As a guest presenter, she introduced our Pre-K through Second Grade students to the lovable duo of Penny and Rio.
Mrs. Swanson made Penny & Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting come alive for audiences through her animation, expression and the interactive reading of her very appealing story. Based upon her own lovable pets, this adventure captivated the interests and imagination of the youngsters and adults, as well. In addition, she also graciously returned to be a part of our Literacy Night event. While there, she greeted students and families and shared activities related to the characters she brought to life in her presentations.
Students truly connected to the fact that Mrs. Swanson is a local author and her book made a lasting impression upon them. She shared how events from her own life sparked the idea for the Penny & Rio adventure. She inspired our budding authors to reach into their own lives and experiences for writing topics. Mrs. Swanson left them believing that they, too, may one day become a published author!
We eagerly await reading about the upcoming and continuing adventures of Penny and Rio. Our school definitely wishes to have Jennifer Swanson visit again. We recommend for all who have a love of good children’s literature and think it is important to foster writing to be sure to experience her highly engaging presentations and warm personality.
Sincerely,
Janet Heartsill,
School Instructional Coach
Merrill Road Elementary School
Thank you very much for visiting Henry F. Kite and sharing your story, Penny and Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting with us. The children were inspired after meeting a “real” author! Your read aloud was wonderful as was your presentation on the story but also to inspire future authors.
Michelle Stinson
Instructional Coach and Duval County Teacher of the Year 2007
Henry F. Kite Elementary
Thank you for participating in our National Young Readers Week celebration at Grace
Lutheran School! We appreciate that you took time out of your busy schedule to join us!
Our students greatly enjoyed your visit and reading of Penny and Rio: The Mysterious
Backyard Meeting. We are thrilled to support you!
Julie Ann Peterson
Admissions Counselor
Grace Lutheran School, November 2008
Are you looking for a chapter book that will capture the attention of children? Look no
further! Penny and Rio The Mysterious Backyard Meeting, by Jennifer Swanson, is an
page turner as Penny and Rio attempt to figure out the reason for the secret meetings
being held in their backyard. Penny and Rio The Mysterious Backyard Meeting will teach
children that things are not always what they seem and that snap judgements are not fair
and are often wrong.
Jennifer Swanson came to visit my 3rd grade class at Jacksonville Beach Elementary
School. My students were engrossed as she read the tale of Penny and Rio and they were
surprised at the way the story ended. They were able to make text to text connections
between Penny and Rio and The Tale of Despereaux. Both stories involved a brave
animal trying to solve a mystery, both stories held their interest and taught a valuable
lesson.
Jennifer Swanson is an author that relates well with her audience. My students loved the
way she gave the characters different voices as she read aloud to them. They remarked,
“It made the characters in the story seem real.” She also brought along her two stuffed
animal dogs and talked about how they were like the two dogs, Penny and Rio that she
had as her pets. My students enjoyed hearing how she got ideas for her books from
events in her own life. Jennifer Swanson took the time to answer every student’s question.
She also reinforced the importance of the writing process and spent a lot of time talking
about editing and revising.
As a teacher, I was very honored to have Jennifer Swanson come into my classroom. My
students are now anxiously awaiting the next adventure of Penny and Rio.
Mary Lee, teacher
Jacksonville Beach Elementary
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