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Highlands Today

AP first-graders are published authors

Jasmina Meyer, Highlands Today

Paula Hall's first-graders wrote and illustrated a book about the Highlands County area titled "Avon Park an Elementary Guide" which Fisher Miller, center, holds as his classmates gather around him on the last day of school on Thursday at Avon Elementary School.

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By LAURA NESBITT

Highlands Today

Published: June 5, 2009

AVON PARK - Seven-year-old Francis Espiritu is a published author.

"I feel proud," Francis said about his newfound notoriety.

Francis and 16 of his classmates from Paula Hall's first-grade advanced academics class at Avon Elementary School each wrote and illustrated one page of "Avon Park: an Elementary Guide."

On Francis' page is a drawing of his Siberian husky, Trooper. Below the drawing is the sentence: "There are many dogs in Avon Park."

The 24-page hardcover book is meant to be an informative document about the surrounding area. A copy of it is housed in the collection at the Avon Park Library, said Don Brusha, librarian.

Jacoria Pressley said she wrote the sentences on her page about her family: "Families are the best in Avon Park. They always love you."

Andrew Shaw wrote about oak trees because he likes them.

Jeffrey Lozier wrote about cars because he wants to work on cars, especially Mustangs, when he gets older.

And because his friend had already written about cars, Chase Doty drew a picture of cows standing close to a mountain. Chase wants to be a race car driver, especially Ferraris.

Hall said she was looking for a way to challenge her students when Claire Hurd, a parent, came to her with the idea.

Hurd published the book using http://www.turningpages.com/. Her parents paid the $265 bill for the 25 copies, she said.

The children spent two days completing the project in March and April.

"They practiced a lot of writing skills and studied children's authors," Hall said.

"It's a great group. They're very creative."

Highlands Today reporter Laura Nesbitt can be reached at (863) 386-5857 or lnesbitt@highlandstoday.com.

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