Young Authors' Day: Turning Students into Authors 40 Years Later

This year, Mobile Ed is celebrating the long-standing success of the Young Author's Day assembly. This unique assembly experience teaches students how to become storytellers in a way they will never forget. Many schools host this program every year, making it a tradition for thousands of students. Don't miss the interview with professional Mime Thomas Johnson to learn why thousands of schools love Young Authors' Day and how it's changed their school year. 

For decades, Young Authors' Day has been one of the best ways for teachers to spark a meaningful love of writing in students. In this full-day experience, TOMA the Mime introduces your students to the elements of story before inviting them to craft their own tales. Throughout the school day, TOMA visits each classroom to provide personalized feedback and guidance to each class. At the end of the day, students' stories come to life as TOMA performs them on stage.  

February 2026 marks 40 years of presenting the Young Authors' Day school assembly. Thomas Johnson, professional mime and creator of the Young Authors' Day program (stage name TOMA), says, "Each show gets better and better, even 40 years later." How does an educational show for kids hold up decades later? Well, Johnson explains why in an interview with Hannah Terry, Marketing Coordinator for Mobile Ed. 

According to Johnson, Young Authors' Day is a unique program for many reasons, but one reason is that it teaches students foundational skills for learning. The ability to understand new information (reading) and communicate it (writing) is the basis for all other learning. In this assembly, Johnson breaks down story structure in a way students can visually see. TOMA uses his incredible skills as a mime to demonstrate how stories can come to life with a few simple components. 

You may be thinking, why does a school assembly about writing use mime? Mime is a form of theater that relies on body movement and facial expression to portray a story, typically in a comedic or dramatic tone. When Johnson was invited by one of his friends to perform for their students 40 years ago, he quickly learned that students were captivated by the unique art form and that it was a creative way to show students how one movement can change the entire meaning of a story. 

Thomas Johnson (AKA TOMA the Mime) learned this unique profession from none other than the most legendary mime, Marcel Marceau. Johnson has always loved theater, even as a young kid, but he fell in love with the art of mime during a grade school unit on it. After high school, Johnson was thrilled to learn that Marcel Marceau, a famous French mime, was coming to the United States to teach a few select students the art of mime. Marceau happened to be teaching in Ann Arbor, MI that year, where Johnson was then selected to learn under Marceau. He also trained under him in Paris, France. They remained lifelong friends. 

In a world where endless information is available in the palm of your hand, the lack of technology in this school assembly may be a key to its success; the show relies completely on art. How often are students exposed to new information and experiences without any technology? In Young Authors' Day, students get a break from screens to learn about the art of storytelling, straight from a professional. 

Johnson feels every student should experience Young Authors' Day. "It's becoming increasingly challenging for students to step away from screens and to be creative," says Johnson. "I may be on the stage, but it's the students who get to be the storytellers in this show." In fact, Johnson performs students' own stories at the end of the program.

Take a look a the video below to see exactly what Young Authors' Day is all about!👇

Young Authors' Day has become a yearly tradition for many schools for a reason. Educators love Young Authors Day because it’s set up right in your school, perfect for grades K-9, and designed to boost literacy, confidence, and creativity. This being one of our favorite assemblies, we don't want your students to miss out on this opportunity. Click the button below to learn more and find availability in your area.