Stewart Home & School was delighted to have three special guests on campus yesterday, Ellen Skidmore, Jennie Leavell, and Fran Taylor.

Ellen Skidmore is a decorated artist and author of ELLEN: The Girl Who Found Her Voice. The book, which is also illustrated by Skidmore featuring 28 paintings, depicts Skidmore’s childhood growing up with a severe speech impediment and how she used art to express her thoughts. Our students absolutely loved listening to Mrs. Skidmore as she read her book to our art class and reading classes.

Joining Ellen Skidmore was Jennie Leavell and Fran Taylor. Leavell is also a children’s book author that is set to have her first book published in the coming year. Students were treated to a special reading of her book that focuses on her neighborhood cat. Fran Taylor is an award-winning author and publisher, founder of West High Publishing that published Skidmore’s ELLEN book. After each reading our students had an opportunity to ask questions to each guest. The questions were great, ranging from inspirations behind their stories, to favorite styles of art.

Their visit concluded with a tour of our beautiful campus visiting Main Building, the Equestrian Barn, and the Academic Buildings.