Amid family and friends, a few of Jacksonville’s youngest published authors gleamed with pride yesterday as they read their stories out loud and signed books for fans at the Murray Hill Branch library.
“I’m just so proud of myself,” said 9-year-old Jasmine Butler, who will enter fifth grade at St. Clair Evans Academy. “I’ve always loved reading and writing, but to see my story in a real book is something special.”
“The Writing Express: Changing the World One Story at a Time,” is a collection of short stories written by fourth-grade students at St. Clair Evans and Martin Luther King Jr. elementary schools. It’s the result of an eight-week writing workshop conducted by children’s book author Twyla Prindle, founder of publishing company Prindle House, the book’s publisher.
“The young writers program started as a way to increase young people’s interests in writing and publishing,” Prindle said. “It started in 2005 when I self-published my first children’s book, and evolved into the writing program for elementary students.”
The book features 23 fiction and nonfiction short stories written by the students. Also included are two stories by “celebrity writers” – Duval County School Board Vice Chairwoman Betty Burney and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker.
Jasmine’s story, “The Adventures of the Apple World,” takes the reader through an imaginary world where people are morphed into apples.
“I used my imagination and came up with the idea,” said Jasmine, whose favorite subjects are reading and writing. “I like writing and want to keep on doing it,” she said, thanking her mother for her encouragement and never giving up on her.
Funding for the workshops was provided by the United Way’s Full Service Schools program, and was geared to fourth-graders in preparation for the writing component of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
The book sells for $14.95 and is available through prindlehouse.com. Proceeds from sales go toward funding The Young Writers Program.
