Children's author and illustrator Elaine Greenstein uses one of her works to walk second graders at Stratford and Stewart Schools through the book production process, from original draft to final publication. Children's book author and illustrator Elaine Greenstein met with second grade classes at Stratford and Stewart Schools this month to share how she develops ideas for projects and turns them into books.

Ms. Greenstein has written and illustrated 12 colorful children's books, including Mattie's Hats Won't Wear That! and Ice Cream Cones for Sale! The author used one of these works to illustrate each stage of the book production process, from original hand-written draft to multi-color proofs produced by the printer.

She also demonstrated how she uses an etching press to create illustrations and discussed how she works on both words and pictures, collaborates with an editor, lays out the format of the book, and follows the project through the printing process.

The session wrapped up with a lively question and answer period, with students inspired to write and share their own stories. Ms. Greenstein left an autographed copy of one of her books at each school. The books are circulating in second grade classes and will be added to the collection of each school's library.

Ms. Greenstein's visit was an Arts-in-Education presentation, a program coordinated by the Arts-in-Education Committee of the Garden City School District Parent Teacher Association funded by the Garden City Union Free School District.