March 28, 2024 (Vankleek Hill, ON) – Pleasant Corners Public School (PCPS) is proud to announce the remarkable achievement of its Grade 1 classes, who recently authored and illustrated eight captivating "who would win" style books.
On March 27, the two Grade 1 classes welcomed families and friends to their book launch event to celebrate the creative endeavors of these young talents. In a book tour format, guests walked around the room and heard each of the eight books – read by the authors – filled with imaginative storytelling and vibrant illustrations.
Teacher Stacy Schwendemann started the writing endeavour last school year with her Kindergarten class where they wrote and narrated a digital storybook on the life of Rosa Parks.
Having many of the same students in her Grade 1 class this year, Schwendemann decided to keep the momentum going with another writing project. The group decided to base their books off a class favourite – the Scholastic “Who Would Win” books.
"I enjoyed making the books. I wanted to go home and write another book," said Luca Villeneuve, one of the authors of Squid vs. Octopus. Classmate and author of Tiger vs. Lion, Lily Rutherford said “I like learning about the animals. The lion and tiger both have sharp teeth and run fast.”
The books captivate readers with thrilling fight scenes as they compare two similar animals and declare a winner by the end of each tale. Many of the students said that writing and illustrating the fight scene was their favourite part.
Reflecting on the importance of real-world learning in the classroom, student Freya Parisien, who was also part of the group that wrote Squid vs. Octopus, said "it’s important to learn different things before we go to Grade 2."
Schwendemann shared her journey of embracing real-world learning, emphasizing its transformative impact on both her perspective as an educator and the students' learning experiences. "Having 34 Grade 1s be able to say ‘I'm an author and an illustrator’ and ‘I want to read and write’" is something I'm eternally passionate about,” she said.
As the Grade 1 authors continue on their literary journey, their next book, titled The ABCs of Positive Character, will be published in hardcover and officially documented and logged with an ISBN number. This ensures that the book has a legacy in the Library of Canada. This achievement not only celebrates the creativity and talent of these young authors but also inspires future generations of writers and illustrators.
Both the mini-books and the coming hard cover book are available for families to purchase as a keepsake and showcase of their growing literacy skills, creativity and imagination.
For media inquiries, please contact:
April Scott-Clarke
Manger of Communications
Upper Canada District School Board
[email protected]