Student-created book added to Red Hook Public Library collection
Have you ever wondered what a cow would think of receiving a ukulele as a gift?
There’s a book at Red Hook Public Library that can answer that question, and help you brush up on your Spanish.
Sixty Linden Avenue Middle School students across Liz Lowney’s eighth-grade Spanish classes created “Los animales se celebran la Navidad también,” or “Animals celebrate Christmas, also,” a hand-drawn 84-page book that is now part of the library’s collection.
Working in groups of two or three during the four days preceding winter recess, the students were tasked with writing and illustrating situations in which an animal receives a Christmas gift and reacts to it, positively or negatively.
“We’re working with opinion vocabulary, animal vocabulary,” Lowney explained, noting students also used expressions of comparison and descriptive adjectives.
The project evolved from a similar assignment at the end of last year in which students created a collection of 10-page books. It came up in conversation when Lowney met Red Hook Library Director Alex Geller over the summer.
“He said, ‘If you ever want to display something at the library, just let me know,’ Lowney recalled. “So, when I thought of this project I touched base with him and asked if the offer still stood. He said ‘Yes, and also we’ll add it to the collection.’”
The book, which contains such creative combinations as a snake receiving a pencil – spoiler alert: the handless serpent wasn’t a fan of the gift – was officially put on library shelves to be checked out Jan. 6. It can be found in the “new titles” shelf in the J Spanish section.
The cover was illustrated by Alice Moore and Ella Hutchinson.
“I think it’s pretty cool I got to be a part of it,” Hutchinson said of having a book in a library. “It makes me feel special. It’s cool.”
Moore enjoyed the “creative liberty” the project allowed. For example, Moore and Hutchinson were the two who decided the cow should receive a ukulele, which it was happy to accept.
“His best friend horse gave it to him,” Hutchinson said. “And, he likes to listen to music.”
Lowney was pleased with the outcome, and the idea of more projects making their way to display at the library. Geller, she said, is eager to showcase more student work.
“I’m excited about the book being there,” the teacher said, “and what that could mean for us connecting more with the library and the community.”