Alumna author reads to Children’s Learning Center
Friday, February 27, 2026
photos by Tiffany L. Tyhanic, assistant director of the Dunham Children’s Learning Center
Judi Jessick ’02 interacts with children in the Butterflies class at Penn College’s Dunham Children’s Learning Center. Jessick visited the classroom to read her latest book, “Agatha Livermore Planted a Tree.”
Penn College grad Judi Jessick ’02 returned to campus Feb. 26 to read the second volume in her Agatha Livermore picture book series to the Butterflies classroom at the Dunham Children’s Learning Center.
The story, “Agatha Livermore Planted a Tree,” is about a girl who sparks a community beautification movement by planting a single tree. The rhyming picture book focuses on community, nature and the value of individual ideas.
Jessick also treated the young learners to a game, asking if items she brought came from a tree or didn’t come from a tree, and signed a copy of the book for the Children’s Learning Center's collection.
“Agatha Livermore Planted a Tree” was released in October through Pegasus Publishers. Jessick read her earlier book, “Agatha Livermore and the Magic Cookie Spoon,” at the Children’s Learning Center in 2024.
Jessick retired from her career as an occupational therapy assistant in 2016. She resides in Shamokin Dam.
As Jessick pulls items from her special box, children answer: Is this from a tree?
Jessick signs a copy of her latest children's book.