CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to Christy Mihaly of Calais, VT. Christy writes fiction and nonfiction, plus poems and articles, for all ages. CLiF created the outline below to help students of all ages think about the kind of books Christy writes.

CLiF is focusing on these three books out of the more than 20 she has written:

• FREE FOR YOU AND ME: What Our First Amendment Means
• HEY, HEY, HAY! (A Tale of Bales and the Machines That Make them)
• DIET FOR A CHANGING PLANET: Food for Thought (young adult non-fiction)

Do you think these books are fiction or non-fiction? What do you think they have in common? Here Christy writes about what inspired her to write Hey! Hey! Hay!

Things to think about:

• What is the difference between fiction and non-fiction?
• How much research do you think Christy has to do to write her books?
• How does she do that research from Vermont?
• What is interesting about writing about your environment?
• How do you turn non-fiction into fiction?
• Read about the different jobs Christy has had. How do you incorporate your experiences into writing?

Here are a few ways to get to know Christy’s work better:

• Hear FREE FOR YOU AND ME: What Our First Amendment Means read for you.
• Christy created a guide for adults to FREE FOR YOU AND ME: What Our First Amendment Means. There are some activities to learn more about the First Amendment.
• Play the game Do I Have a Right? to learn more about the Constitutional amendments.
• See photos that inspired Hey! Hey! Hay!
• Christy created a guide for adults to Hey! Hey! Hay! with some more ideas.

CLiF has created literacy activities for students of all ages here. Here are some that would go nicely with Christy’s stories:

For younger kids reading Hey! Hey! Hay!:

• Dictionary Words – find pictures, draw pictures, or write words that help explain the farming terms in the book.
• Paint Chip Poetry – What colors inspire you? Use crayons and markers to create your own paint chips.

For older kids: review the First Amendment rights.

• Favorite TV Show Challenge – think about TV shows, movies, books you have read lately. Can you think struggles the characters have had with fighting for their rights?
• November Election – which of your favorite characters would make the best president and would best defend your rights? Hold a mock election.
• Christy found inspiration in the fields around her. What story could you tell about something in your neighborhood?
• Check our the democracy comic project This is What Democracy Looks Like by our friends at the Center for Cartoon Studies!

For families:

• Books and Ballots – share some books that everyone can enjoy and set up an election for best book or favorite character.
• Extra! Extra! – create a family newspaper.
• Wonder Wall – find a spot where you can write questions, paste observations or images, or jot down story ideas. Talk about them!