As part of the Fort Dodge Community School District’s Visiting Author program funded by the Fort Dodge Senior High Alumni Association, Arant presented his books and illustrated works to preschoolers of the Early Childhood Center and first and second grade students from Butler, Cooper, Duncombe and Feelhaver elementary schools. He presented separate 45-minute sessions to each group.

Arant’s headline items for the day were “Simpson’s Sheep Won’t Go To Sleep” and “Simpson’s Sheep Just Want To Sleep.” Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, where he has created the Arant Creative Group, the author is also an illustrator of over a dozen children’s books.

“The children were very excited about having Mr. Arant join us with his books,” district librarian Christine Sturgeon said. “It was a great day for everyone involved.”

Sturgeon noted Arant’s visit is just one of several from the yearly series.

“Last year, we brought in Don Tate who works with the Brown Bookshelf,” she said. “He presented to older elementary students. We’ve also had Eric Litwin, the original author of the widely-successful Pete The Cat book, join us.”

“We are so very appreciative of the Senior High Alumni Association for bringing us these types of opportunities,” Sturgeon added. “Our main focus is wanting to get books into children’s hands. This series takes that even further, as the children meet the authors and hear their stories, too. It’s something not a lot of school districts have a chance to do.”