By Tate Papworth
Fifty grade 2 and 3 pupils from Ardeer Primary School are celebrating becoming published authors.
The pupils wrote, illustrated and published Mrs Balil’s Brilliant Boots with help from international bestselling author Emma Bowd.
The opportunity arose as part of Ardoch’s Writer in Residence program, which centres around trying to engage primary school children in literacy.
Under the program, children are connected with a professional writer and together they identify story ideas, build characters, pen their stories, create illustrations and put together a book.
The book is then professionally designed and printed for each child to take home a copy.
Ardoch also donates copies of the book to the school and regional libraries.
Ms Bowd has been involved in Ardoch’s annual Writer in Residence program since its inception in 2016 and said it was a joy to spend time in Ardeer.
“What a joy it has been to spend time with the enthusiastic and talented group of Year 2/3 students at Ardeer Primary School,” she said.
“This is my fourth year supporting Ardoch and I really look forward to term three each year now, to see what amazing children I’m teamed up with.
“It’s my hope that by providing a fun and supportive way of crafting a story together the children will gain not only useful skills in literacy and language development, critical thinking and comprehensions skills; but that their enthusiasm for reading and writing will also soar, along with their confidence in learning.”
