Grab a book. Grab a bite. Join the conversation! Celebrate Scholastic's Teach Graphix Week by watching Episode 2 of Author Lunch Bunch with the Word Nerd, a fun author interview series designed to connect middle school students with the people behind the books they love! In this episode, I'm sitting down for lunch with the amazing Scholastic authors, Gale Galligan and Sara Amini!
Perfect for middle school ELA classrooms, school libraries, reading classes, book clubs, and independent reading programs, Author Lunch Bunch gives students a chance to get to know authors beyond the pages of their books—and hopefully discover new books they can't wait to read.
ON THE LUNCH BUNCH MENU
We asked each author:
1. Do you draw first or write first?
2. Do you like to read while you eat or eat while you read? Yes or No?
3. What is your best brainstorming advice?
4. Would you rather run around at recess or stay inside and read?
5. Do Graphic novels count as reading?
6. What's the WORST hot lunch item on the menu?
7. If your newest book was a food, what would it be?
Along the way, you'll hear stories about middle school, favorite books, writing habits, memorable teachers, beloved characters, and what it's really like to be an author.
MEET THE AUTHORS
Gale Galligan — bestselling author and illustrator known for adapting four books in The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel series, including Dawn and the Impossible Three and Kristy's Big Day, bringing beloved characters and stories to life through colorful illustrations. https://galesaur.com/
Sara Amini — actress, writer, and voice performer known for her work in television and animation, including Lucky Hank and The Twilight Zone. She is now bringing her storytelling skills to a brand new graphic novel series, starting with book 1: Mixed Feelings. https://www.saraamini.com/
TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS: Try showing Author Lunch Bunch during lunch, advisory, library time, First Chapter Friday, independent reading, or whenever your students need a fun dose of bookish inspiration. Students can even bring their lunches and turn it into your own classroom Author Lunch Bunch!
Also, visit Scholastic's website for more great TEACH GRAPHIX WEEK author events, content, activities and reading recommendations! https://www.scholastic.com/site/teach-graphix-week.html
⭐Want YOUR students' questions featured in a future episode?
Word Nerd Collaborative MVP classrooms help create Author Lunch Bunch by submitting questions for our featured authors and participating in special Mystery Author activities before each episode.
www.wordnerdcollaborative.com Thanks to Ms. Costello, Mrs. Merchlewitz and Mrs. Condon's classes for submitting questions to this episode!
I'm Amanda Zieba—the Word Nerd—author, educator, and creator of First Chapter Friday. My goal is simple: help teachers connect kids with books they actually WANT to read. Grab a book. Grab a bite. Join the conversation!
Music Credit: Amanda Zieba and Suno Pro (2026)
A BIG THANKS to Scholastic for sponsoring this video!
#TeachGraphixWeek #SchoalsticsBooks #graphicnovels #AuthorLunchBunch #MiddleSchoolELA #MiddleGradeBooks #AuthorInterview #ReadingEngagement #SchoolLibrarian #MiddleSchoolBooks #ClassroomLibrary #BookRecommendations #FirstChapterFriday #scholastic #ReadingTeachers #saraamini
#galegalligan
Perfect for middle school ELA classrooms, school libraries, reading classes, book clubs, and independent reading programs, Author Lunch Bunch gives students a chance to get to know authors beyond the pages of their books—and hopefully discover new books they can't wait to read.
ON THE LUNCH BUNCH MENU
We asked each author:
1. Do you draw first or write first?
2. Do you like to read while you eat or eat while you read? Yes or No?
3. What is your best brainstorming advice?
4. Would you rather run around at recess or stay inside and read?
5. Do Graphic novels count as reading?
6. What's the WORST hot lunch item on the menu?
7. If your newest book was a food, what would it be?
Along the way, you'll hear stories about middle school, favorite books, writing habits, memorable teachers, beloved characters, and what it's really like to be an author.
MEET THE AUTHORS
Gale Galligan — bestselling author and illustrator known for adapting four books in The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel series, including Dawn and the Impossible Three and Kristy's Big Day, bringing beloved characters and stories to life through colorful illustrations. https://galesaur.com/
Sara Amini — actress, writer, and voice performer known for her work in television and animation, including Lucky Hank and The Twilight Zone. She is now bringing her storytelling skills to a brand new graphic novel series, starting with book 1: Mixed Feelings. https://www.saraamini.com/
TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS: Try showing Author Lunch Bunch during lunch, advisory, library time, First Chapter Friday, independent reading, or whenever your students need a fun dose of bookish inspiration. Students can even bring their lunches and turn it into your own classroom Author Lunch Bunch!
Also, visit Scholastic's website for more great TEACH GRAPHIX WEEK author events, content, activities and reading recommendations! https://www.scholastic.com/site/teach-graphix-week.html
⭐Want YOUR students' questions featured in a future episode?
Word Nerd Collaborative MVP classrooms help create Author Lunch Bunch by submitting questions for our featured authors and participating in special Mystery Author activities before each episode.
www.wordnerdcollaborative.com Thanks to Ms. Costello, Mrs. Merchlewitz and Mrs. Condon's classes for submitting questions to this episode!
I'm Amanda Zieba—the Word Nerd—author, educator, and creator of First Chapter Friday. My goal is simple: help teachers connect kids with books they actually WANT to read. Grab a book. Grab a bite. Join the conversation!
Music Credit: Amanda Zieba and Suno Pro (2026)
A BIG THANKS to Scholastic for sponsoring this video!
#TeachGraphixWeek #SchoalsticsBooks #graphicnovels #AuthorLunchBunch #MiddleSchoolELA #MiddleGradeBooks #AuthorInterview #ReadingEngagement #SchoolLibrarian #MiddleSchoolBooks #ClassroomLibrary #BookRecommendations #FirstChapterFriday #scholastic #ReadingTeachers #saraamini
#galegalligan