May 7, 2021 -- First graders are lots of things: friends and students, artists and dreamers, new readers and climbers and runners and jumpers. But four 1st graders at Fairfax can now add published authors and poets to that list.

Younger Writers, an international organization based out of Massachusetts, holds writing contests for elementary and middle school students multiple times each year in an effort to encourage creative writing. They believe that, “Having work published boosts confidence, nurtures creative talent and showcases creativity.”

And that is certainly the case for Gary Manneker, Maelin Burke, Morgan Danner, and Spencer Zhang, who worked with Conny Meier in an enrichment pullout class for several weeks to prepare their entries for the Peculiar Pets contest.

According to their official notification from Young Writers’ Editorial Manager Jenni Harrison, over 2,000 entries were received and “having all four of your students’ work chosen is something to be proud of; it doesn’t happen every day!”

The students each wrote a poem about an imaginary pet and then designed a piece of artwork to accompany it. According to Ms. Meier, “The project really turned out to be quite demanding.” They researched different types of poetry and read countless examples of haiku, limericks and acrosstix, then spent weeks editing and revising. Adding in the art component helped them clarify their poems as they had to ensure their words and pictures aligned.

“I wanted them to think of features that weren’t just physical,” said Ms. Meier. “It really stretched their thinking.” The children invented everything from Longarmasaurus, a very long-armed dinosaur who starts fires with his fire breath, but “No, don't be scared, he is so cute” to a Funny Wunny who can tell time and likes to go to the theater. There’s also an Alacorn Cat who “turns from orange to primrose when she is mad'' and  Sp-Dino-Fish who is a “sweet pet buddy who duplicates himself.”

Fairfax is planning to frame each child’s poem and artwork as a celebratory gift. And they cannot wait to proudly display their own bound, professional published copy of Peculiar Pets USA in the school library.