On May 15, students, parents, teachers and volunteers celebrated the publication of two beautiful new books written and illustrated by young people in Tucson’s Sunnyside neighborhood.
The Literacy Connects Book Project, made possible through funding from the Southwestern Foundation for Education and Historical Preservation, started with stories written by K-6 students at Mission Manor Elementary School. The stories were then illustrated by student artists at Desert View High School and professionally published under the guidance of Literacy Connects’ teaching artist Mary Ellen Palmeri.
The result was two unique and colorful books capturing the words and ideas of local children. One was an anthology of stories and illustrations, and the other focused on a story called “My Dragon” authored by a Mission Manor second-grader and illustrated by a Desert View High School artist. In addition, each high school artist made a hand-bound version of their book for each author.
The stories ran the gamut from a silly space adventure featuring Nutella and SPAM to an epic battle with an Egyptian pharoah, a happy day-in-the-life story of a horse, and a trucker’s daughter’s emotional narrative of how sad she feels whenever she has to say goodbye to her father.
The books will be distributed throughout the community at Mission Manor Elementary and other Sunnyside schools, at the Valencia Branch of the Pima County Public Library, as well as through pediatric clinics in the Sunnyside neighborhood by Reach Out and Read Southern Arizona as a way to promote early childhood education.
Coming together to read, share and celebrate the books was an amazing experience for those who took part in the project.
“The students had a wonderful time sharing and one of my teachers who was able to come in during the sharing time was very touched by the students from Desert View High School sharing with our young authors,” said Mission Manor Principal Cindy Islas. “A very powerful moment for all the contributors.”
“I am certain the rewards for the students are both profound and long-lasting,” said Sharon O’Brien, Artistic Director of Literacy Connects’ Stories That Soar! program, which coordinated the project. “From the high school artists who worked so hard to create something special, and the young authors who saw the value of their ideas honored in the books, to the teachers and staff who know the importance a moments like these, everyone left with beaming smiles, full hearts and new stories to tell.”
The project was yet another successful cross-over between the programs of Literacy Connects and collaboration with the Sunnyside community. Of the 19 young authors whose work was made into books, five had been working one-on-one with a reading coach through our Reading Seed program.
Thanks to all who helped make the project a success!
