A picture book written and illustrated by Greensview Elementary School students and teachers will soon be released, benefiting the Upper Arlington Education Foundation (UA+Ed).
Golden Bears A to Z celebrates the people, places and traditions that make Upper Arlington such a special community. Approximately 90 Greensview students from grades three through five have been involved in the project, serving on writing, editing and sales/marketing teams alongside teachers Blair Cerny, Jana Holland, Blythe Lamont, Jill Merkle, Jamie Trainor and Mark Walter. The watercolor illustrations were created by Holland and include a hidden bear paw on each page for Golden Bears of all ages to find.
“Golden Bears A to Z has been such an exciting project for the students and staff involved and our school as a whole,” Walter said. “This project has helped us enhance the learning experiences for our students and truly connect our work in school with real world situations.
“Beyond writing and researching for the book, we've been able to involve the students in the illustration and layout process, revising and editing, communicating with the publishing company, marketing plans, and the sales process,” Walter added. “By far the best part of this experience has been seeing the smiles and sense of pride on the students' faces as we complete each phase of this project.”
The project was funded through a grant from UA+Ed, and all proceeds will go directly to support future grants.
“Not only are we creating a children's book that we hope is a staple in all classrooms and many homes around UA, but we are also teaching our students about fundraising and giving back to the community,” Walter added.
Publication of the book is slated for April of this year. Golden Bears A to Z is being offered for sale online through April to families and staff members in the Upper Arlington Schools community by ordering online at
https://www.locallevelevents.com/events/details/6444. Books will be delivered directly to your child's school.
The book will then be available for purchase at several locations around town including Trove Warehouse and Cover to Cover Bookstore. Follow Golden Bears A to Z on Facebook or email
[email protected] for more information.
“It has been amazing to see our student and staff team members work so hard,” Walter said. “We can't wait to have the books in our hands come April.”