Carson City's newest published authors are second graders

Manuscript after manuscript, revision after revision - some authors toil their entire lives only to fall short of having their words see the light of day in published form.

Others wait until they're 8.

Susie Owens' second grade class at Fremont Elementary recently received a package from Studentreasures Publishing containing a hardbound copy of their book, "Weather."

Illustrated and co-authored by more than 20 of Owens' students, the book is the compilation of more than five weeks of research, writing and editing, she said.

"We had a third-quarter science (emphasis) on weather," Owens said. "(Student teacher) Becca Fleming came to me with the idea to publish a book. "... And we took it from there."

Monday, the class interrupted the task of learning how the calendar works to talk about what went into publishing their first work.

"We all contributed," said Bryce Poallini, 8. "It was a lot of work. We had to research the weather and each come up with our own story.

"My family wound up buying two books."

While the mini-Grishams of the class aren't quite topping the New York Times Bestseller list, some $300 in books were sold, Owens said.

"I was just curious to see how the process would work," she said. "I didn't know what to expect. But they worked hard and it was nice for them to be able to see the results."

Student teacher Fleming said a colleague at Seeliger Elementary gave her the idea.

"They tried it over there and I think it worked," she said. "The good thing about working with the (publisher) we did is they don't charge you up front.

"So, we pretty much figured, why not?"

Fremont principal Mark Van Voorst said he was especially proud of the book project because it integrated so many different facets of curriculum - in a "project they could see happening on the ground."

"With each project, we try to gauge how effective a (learning) tool it is - how much it reinforces what we're doing," he said. "With the book project, they're learning not only about the subject matter, but they're learning the process of doing research, writing, editing and how to deal with timelines and deadlines."

Indeed, Owens and the students recalled Monday "barely making" a deadline.

"It was tough getting there," said Owens. "But we learned a lot of lessons about what the consequences are of not getting things turned in on time."

While some members of the class were a bit dismayed as to why they hadn't yet received royalties from the sales of "Weather," others, like most upstart authors, were simply glad the first book was out of the way.

"All that time, all that editing," said Calli Hess, 8. "It just got to be a little boring after awhile."

• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at 881-1219 or apridgen@nevadaappeal.com.