A creative initiative at Rio Norte Junior High School has led seventh-grade students to craft original novels intended for second graders. Under the guidance of teacher Caroline Regan, these students dedicated months to writing, which culminated in the donation of 85 books to Katherine Solomon‘s second-grade class at Emblem Academy.
The project not only fosters a love of reading but also highlights the importance of storytelling across age groups. Regan’s inspiration stems from her mother, Janet Squires, a published children’s book author whose work has reached hundreds of thousands of children. Squires recalls her journey from photojournalism to writing, stating, “I spent all my time with children’s books. I thought I’d try it and see what I could come up with,” leading to her first book, *The Gingerbread Cowboy*.
Squires’ influence is evident in Regan’s teaching approach. With 18 years of experience in education, Regan incorporates narrative writing into her curriculum, prompting students to create children’s stories rather than traditional narratives. “It’s a challenging project, but everyone got so excited,” Regan explained. Students learned to develop characters, plots, and themes while also illustrating their books, with some reaching a maximum total of 21 pages.
The excitement was palpable when the second graders received their books. Solomon described her students as “jumping up and down” in anticipation. She had been building excitement about the project, and when the books arrived, the students’ reactions were overwhelmingly positive. “It was almost better than Santa,” she remarked, noting the admiration her students had for their older peers.
The second graders engaged deeply with the novels, not only enjoying their content but also actively participating in book reviews. Solomon’s class of 28 students rated the books and discussed their favorite parts, focusing on the themes presented in the stories. This experience was particularly meaningful as it aimed to foster empathy among the young readers. “My students love that the books have a message to them,” Solomon added.
Regan’s seventh-grade student Lauren Do, 12, reflected on the project, saying, “It was such an exciting, creativity-fueled process. It felt so nostalgic revisiting the nature of children’s books, only this time, we were the ones crafting the memories.”
This initiative not only strengthens the connection between different age groups but also encourages young writers to see the impact of their creativity. As the seventh graders look forward to receiving feedback on their work, both Regan and Solomon celebrate the profound experience that has emerged from this collaborative effort.
