Author of patriotic books visits Warner Robins Middle

Warner Robins Middle School students learned the importance of why every vote counts. Author MaryTherese “MT” Grabowski, who now lives in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Warner Robins, visited the school Thursday morning to read to the students and to play patriotic jeopardy.

Also visiting with Grabowski was her illustrator, Michelle Graham-Fricks, who is from Corpus-Christi, Texas.

Grabowski read from her latest book, “Your Vote Counts,” which just launched on PBS LearningMedia. PBS has created accompanying classroom curriculum for grades 4-6. “Your Vote Counts” teaches young students about the importance of voting and is the most recent book in Grabowski’s Spirit of America patriotic book series for children. Her other two books include “America by George!” and “Liberty on the Loose in the White House.”

According to her website, what sparked her interest to write the Spirit of America series was when she asked her young niece, “Can you tell me who makes up the president’s cabinet?” The response was, “Why do I care who makes his furniture?” So, although humorous, she realized that “we are missing kids at an earlier age teaching them the basics of civics which they are usually taught in 10th grade and that is two years before these students are eligible to vote.”

At Thursday’s assembly, Grabowski told the students that the main character of her books is America Johnson, who takes young readers on patriotic adventures that are fun and educational.

“I’m so glad to be back here in Warner Robins,” she said about her hometown.

A former substitute teacher at Warner Robins Middle School, Grabowski said, “This is an awesome school.”

She explained how she linked up with her illustrator. Also a former reporter for WMAZ, Grabowski said she met Graham-Fricks 10 years ago when interviewing her for a story. Later when she began writing her first book, “Liberty on the Loose in the White House,” she remembered Graham-Fricks and asked her to illustrate the book.

According to her website, Grabowski and Graham-Fricks are creating a “movement” to educate students earlier on the basics. It states, “If you can take historical events and information and present them through creative story telling, you just might hook these kids.”

While interacting with 275 sixth graders in the Warrior Café by reading from her book and asking them questions, Graham-Fricks quickly sketched the first president of the United States, George Washington, at the front of the room.

Grabowski told the students that voting is all about having a voice and voicing your opinion. During her presentation, some of the students received prizes. She and Graham-Fricks also visited Huntington Middle School, C.B. Watson Primary School and Pearl Stephens Elementary School.

HHJ News