Photo Credit: Sherrie Y. Young
Mr. Peck meets with fourth graders attending Sunnyside's
after-school program.
Young-adult author Richard Peck visited Sunnyside Community
Services Senior Center in Queens from May 25 to May
27 and on June 2. Mr. Peck's A Long Way from Chicago
was a 1998 Finalist for the National Book Award in Young
 People's
Literature as well as a Newberry Honor Book.
Photo Credit: Sherrie Y. Young
Mr. Peck conducted writing workshops with fifteen senior
citizens. The seniors shared the work they produced
from the workshops with the audience at a public reading.
He has written more than 20 acclaimed novels for young
readers. Mr. Peck, who is a former teacher, met with
senior citizens, fourth graders, and junior-high students
attending an after-school program through the center's
intergenerational program. All participants received
a copy of his book, A Long Way from Chicago.
 Photo
Credit: Sherrie Y. Young
Twenty-five fourth graders and senior citizens meet
once a week as part of Sunnyside's intergenerational
program to discuss literature. As the students asked
Mr. Peck questions, the seniors would nod their heads
in approval of the questions and say, "good question",
"good question." I love the energy that was
generated from the two groups, " stated Mr. Peck.
The National Book Foundation's
1999 Settlement House Author Residency program was made
possible through funding from Theodore H. Barth Foundation,
R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, the Riggio Foundation,
and The New York State Council on the Arts.
Dial Books for Young Readers generously
donated books to the program.
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