Young authors learn magic of words
MICHELLE FERRIER
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
COLUMNIST
A soft brushed denim of lavender with purple and blue flowers stretched across the cardboard that made the covers of the book. A garish, but strong, yellow tape bound the spine. Stenciled on the front, it says “Meet the Speech Family,” by Michelle Barrett.
I still have the book I made in sixth grade, as part of a young writer’s program similar to the Young Authors Program here in Volusia County. The story introduces the parts of speech — Alrene Adverb, Violet Verb, Nancy Noun — and is illustrated with the capital letters “A,” “V,” and “N” dressed as people in a family. On the inside cover is a small ribbon, handmade of red and blue ribbons, given to everyone who made a book.
I don’t remember being a winner, not in the sense of any special recognition, but I do remember how special that book made me feel. My first book. My first published book. There was a magic at work then that probably presaged my career as a writer.
A similar feeling of magic and wonder filled the hotel ballroom packed beyond capacity with young authors who had received county recognition this week at the Young Authors’ Conference in DeLand. Two representatives from each school — 92 writers out of about 25,000 K-5 students in the school district — were feted at this celebration of writing, language and words.
My 7-year-old daughter Haile was one of those pupils celebrating her first book, “Me and the Crab,” a story of forgiveness and making friends. She sat at a table with other first-graders surrounded by balloons and packets filled with pencils, a writing journal pad, crayons and a program that included each young author and the titles of their books.
Pupils at the first-grade table read their stories to the parents who surrounded them, showing off their illustrated pages to everyone. Alex enthusiastically read his book, “Dancing Bees.” Taneth shyly read her story called “Bees.” Lauryn’s mom read Lauryn’s chapter book, “The Way to Life.” Each child received a certificate of recognition before the capacity crowd of nearly 500.
I know my daughter had no clue she would be participating in such a grand tribute as she vibrated with excitement. Days later, she’s still wearing a glow of accomplishment.
She’s sitting at the dining table, concentrating with a sparkle blue pen in hand. She’s writing in her writer’s journal, something she’s called “Sneak Peek of Today.” She’s chronicling our dinner party with a few family friends.
“Tonight, I’m having a party and my daddy’s friends are coming over. It will be so fun,” she writes.
“I hope I can sleep because they might scream and shout like last time! It was loud and crazy. Sneak peek of today.”
She’s drawn herself winking with people around the table eating. By the time our guests leave, she’s filled five pages with her stories and drawings.
She writes to remember because, as one African saying cautions, “To forget is the same thing as to throw away.”
I hope she remembers that she is already a writer and looks back on this book as the first of many.