Blades Elementary School fourth- and fifth-graders recently gained a new perspective on the meaning of popularity — and witnessed an artist in action — when they attended an assembly featuring Amy Ignatow, author and illustrator of “The Popularity Papers.”

Though many of the Blades pupils already have read and become fans of Ignatow’s debut novel, the author explained her book to the audience, describing the plans developed by the novel’s main characters to gain popularity. Ignatow asked pupils about their thoughts on the idea of “popularity” and then answered several questions from the fourth- and fifth-graders.

When asked by a pupil if she was popular in school, Ignatow replied, “I don’t know … I think if you have a lot of friends — or even one good friend — that makes you popular.”

Ignatow also entertained Blades pupils with her artistic abilities and encouraged them to draw as well, even if they do not consider themselves to be great artists.

After completing her own stick figure drawing, Ignatow said, “See how easy it is to make a point by using a simple stick figure?”

After the assembly, Ignatow autographed copies of “The Popularity Papers” for pupils.