MEXICO — Students and teachers from Meroby Elementary School got pointers about how to write short stories from a published children’s author Wednesday. Their parents and others in the community will have a similar chance Thursday night.

“This is part of our plan to improve writing and reading,” literacy coach Eileen Pew said.

A group of fifth-graders gathered around children’s author Amy MacDonald on Wednesday afternoon to help to build a story about a farmer and his wife, the farmyard animals and a businessman who wanted to take over the farm.

MacDonald, from the Portland area, directed the children through the writing process from identifying the problem and the solution, and how the solution came about.

“We focus on Maine writers,” Pew said. “And we’re always working to try to improve.”

Funding for her visit came from both state and local sources.

Earlier in the week, a former game warden and children’s and essay author, Gareth Anderson of Harpswell, visited the fourth- and fifth-grade classes, fourth-grade teacher Shane Smith said.

He read from several animal-related books he had written over the years and distributed a guide for lost hunters, “You Alone in the Maine Woods,” to all students.

Anderson has done hundreds of speaking engagements, Smith said, adding that he did not ask for a speaking fee.

Anderson brought along another former game warden, Eric Wight from the Bethel area, to help with the reading and discussions on animals.

Pew said the authors’ visits were all part of Read Across America Week. Each day included a special reading-related event for youngsters. On one day, community members read to classes. On another, the Reading Is Fundamental program distributed books to all children. And each morning classes were asked different questions about popular stories.

From 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, MacDonald will again read to students and the community. Students will share the work they have done with her with their parents. The culminating event takes place in the Meroby gym.