Area elementary students who will participate in the Marquette-Alger Young Authors' Conference May 8-11 at Northern Michigan University read their books to NMU President Fritz Erickson and his wife, Jan. Over the past 40 years, the conference has grown to include 13 schools and about 3,000 children from pre-K through 5th grade. Literacy activities involve reading, researching, writing, illustrating, sharing and finally publishing a book as a culminating project. This year’s guest author/illustrator is David Biedrzycki.

Pictured with the Ericksons are (from left): Miley Morcom, 1st grade, Birchview; Katja Tuuri, 2nd grade, Father Marquette; Athena Kinnunen, 5th grade, Aspen Ridge; Benjamin Faber, 4th grade, North Star Academy; Ayla Reichel, kindergarten, Lakeview; and Oliver Kudej, 3rd grade, Cherry Creek.