\n\t\tThe sky\u2019s the limit for McDonough author, illustrator \u2014 Students write and illustrate Spanish language children\u2019s book\n<\/p>\n
The story of Mar, a blue star in a celestial sea of red, orange and yellow ones, comes to life in the Spanish language children\u2019s book, \u201cMar la\u00a0Estrella: La\u00a0Estrella\u00a0Perdi\u00f3,\u201d written and illustrated by two Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) high school seniors.<\/p>\n
Maurice J. McDonough High School students Cori Avent, the author, and Cynclair Wilson, the illustrator, developed the tale and art to help children feel good about who they are and what makes them unique.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so important that little kids, younger kids recognize that their differences are what makes them special,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
Avent and Wilson recently visited Arthur Middleton Elementary School to read \u201cMar la Estrella,\u201d \u2014 Mar the Star \u2014 to students in kindergarten and first grade who are learning in both English and Spanish as part of the dual language, two-way immersion program housed at the school. Following the reading, Middleton students selected coloring pages featuring characters from the book to work on.<\/p>\n
Being a published author and illustrator was a turn of events neither high schooler expected. The book project started two years before in Amanda Raniolo\u2019s Spanish class at McDonough. During class, students read fairytales they are familiar with, but in Spanish. The practice increased their understanding of the language and grammar.<\/p>\n
Raniolo tasked students to come up with alternative endings to the tales and when she noticed that they had fun with the project, she expanded it to have students develop original children\u2019s stories. The stories allowed students to practice writing in Spanish past tenses \u2014 preterite and imperfect.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are grammar structures within storytelling that students practice throughout the year,\u201d Raniolo said. \u201cThrough story telling it makes it more interesting for them and they get to create and tell their own story.\u201d<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t surprise Raniolo when Avent and Wilson turned in assignments of top-notch caliber. \u201cAll projects and assignments that both Cori and Cynclair have turned in for class or for the polyglot team are always extraordinary,\u201d Raniolo said. \u201cYou can see their creative nature and they always put forth their absolute best effort.\u201d<\/p>\n