BLOOMINGTON — With a little help from a professional author,
Holy Trinity students are ready to share their own masterpiece.
Michigan-based children’s author Alan St. Jean led workshops,
the Writing Olympics, for K-5 students at the school. First, they
learned the basics of character and plot development, conflict and
solution. Then they wrote a story, which St. Jean edited. They
reveal their story today.
“When I write a story, I don’t want it to be predictable,” said
St. Jean. He asked students if they were surprised to find the hero
in his book, “Alyssa and the Spider,” and many were.
He writes stories with lessons, wrapped with fun and monsters;
his favorite author, C.S. Lewis, writes about life lessons.
Growing up, he and his sister would watch scary movies each
Saturday night, he told the students. His favorite animal is his
sheltie, Katie the Wonder Dog.
People are also reading…
At Holy Trinity, each grade level used different animal
characters to follow a theme of “Life is a Zoo.” Children shouted
their ideas as St. Jean helped write the story and then assigned
students to illustrate the book.
Second-grader Ava Sivore, 7, especially liked the ending of her
class’ story about Bob the Penguin. “I thought it was fun,” she
said of the writing process.
“His excitement is contagious,” said second-grade teacher Deb
Rettig. “They love this. Writing can be hard, and he motivates
them.”
St. Jean was 40 when he wrote his first book, “Adian of Oren,
The Journey Begins,” to help promote his doll business. He’s had
seven books published in the last eight years and is working on one
inspired by his Christmas Day birthday.
What: Children’s author Alan St. Jean
When: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Holy Trinity Catholic School, 1909 E. Lincoln St.,
Bloomington.
Questions to the author from second graders:
Q: What are your favorite movies?
A: Monster movies. When I was a kid, every Saturday night my
sister and I watched scary movies.
Q: Who is your favorite author?
A: C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) because he writes to
teach children lessons about life.
Q; How old are you? When is your birthday?
A: I’m 48. My birthday is on Christmas Day.
Q; What is your favorite holiday?
A: Christmas. Some years when I was little they forgot my
birthday.
Q: What is your favorite animal?
A: Katie the Wonder Dog – My little Sheltie.
