Author visits Clinton Elementary School

Children’s author Elisha Cooper visited Clinton Elementary School Nov.3, talking to students about his career and his book, “River.” The visit was part of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District’s Big Read celebration.

“River” is about a woman who paddles down the Hudson River in a canoe from the Adirondacks to New York City. Clinton students read the book before Cooper’s visit.

“It’s a beautiful book,” said Suzi Sullivan, a third-grade teacher who arranged Cooper’s visit. “The students loved the book. They loved the pictures. We’ve read it a few times so they’re very familiar with it.”

Cooper, who played football at Yale University, grew up on a farm with barns, animals and an orchard in Connecticut.

“We had cats, dogs, goats and before school every morning, starting in third or fourth grade, I was milking the goats,” he said to the students and staff. 

“The reason I’m mentioning that is that it’s almost this perfect place to draw because there were all these animals. It was a great place to grow up because I did a lot of drawing.”

Cooper always carried a sketchbook with him, even on his trips through the Hudson Valley and the Adirondacks as he did his research for “River.” He visited the mid-Hudson Valley and Henderson Lake in the Adirondacks, which is where the Hudson River starts.

“I realized that there was something about the river that lent itself to the writing of a book,” he said.

Cooper offered students the opportunity to ask him questions and he sketched some photos for students to show how he draws animals and people.

Dr. David Scott, principal of Clinton Elementary School, was thrilled students had the chance to see Cooper.

“I think it’s fantastic because it gives the children the opportunity to read a book,” he said before Cooper’s arrival. “They’ve already read the book, so to get the opportunity to meet the person who wrote the book is going to be awesome.”