From left, Mary Helen Gensch, Chris Barton, and Hilary Stouder pose together for a photo.

PIERCETON — New York Times Best Selling Author Chris Barton, the author of 16 children’s illustrated books, visited Pierceton Elementary School on Monday, Oct. 1. Throughout the day, all six grades at PES had an opportunity to listen to Barton’s presentation, which included a brief introduction about finding his gift for writing. Barton also read one of his books aloud and then answered questions.

For the younger grades, Barton read his book “Mighty Truck: Muddymania,” while he read his newest work “What Do You Do With A Voice Like That?” for the older students. “Mighty Truck,” is a fictional account about a truck that finds it has super powers after going through a special car wash. The book reading quickly garnered participation from students as Barton encouraged them to make sound effects and hand motions with him. Meanwhile, the non-fictional account of “What Do You Do With A Voice Like That?” shared the biography of Barbara Jordan, an African American woman from Texas who went to law school, the Texas State Senate, and then became a United States Congresswoman in the 1960s. According to Barton’s website www.chrisbarton.info, “Throughout her career, she persevered through adversity to give voice to the voiceless and to fight for civil rights, equality, and justice.”

After each session, the students of PES were each given an opportunity to meet the author, thank him for his visit and request autographs.

This was Barton’s first speaking engagement in a public school in Indiana.