MANY THANKS TO

Kevin Carney

Sue Danuloff

Karla Graessley

Jennifer Foster

Jared Hawkley

Ian Huebert

Sandy Huizenga

Noa Iacob

Jenny Larsen

Frances Martin

Cory McEmeel

Nikki Polizzi

Jacqui Robbins

Jonathan Schwartz

Sandy Todd

Amy Wilson

Catherine Winters without whom this publication would not have been possible.

Please see the appendix for a full list of acknowledgements.

3. Mysteries

4. Tall Tales

Jacqui Robbins

Whenever i do an author visit to a school, I first ask the students, “Who here is a writer?” I try to make the point that anyone who writes is a writer, but I usually get only a few brave hands and a lot of blank stares. “Aren’t you supposed to be the writer?” I can hear them thinking.

From the moment I walked into Erickson Elementary to volunteer with 826michigan, I knew Erickson was different. Already, the first month of school, even the youngest students were writing. And not just writing—talking about writing, playing with different genres and styles, and working hard to revise and present their work. Every one of these kids would have raised his or her hand, had I asked my usual question. They are all writers and they know it.

Soon, you will know it too. This book represents a year of collaboration between 826michigan volunteers, the fantastic and welcoming staff at Erickson, and those young, amazing writers. Tall tales, fables, and more, all of it created with imagination and hard work. Sit back and relax; you are in for a treat.

wh E r E YOU wi LL w ANDE r T hr OU gh f ANTAST ic LANDS , SU ch AS A m E xic AN j A i L , T h E m OON , AND A w O r LD wh E r E E v E r YT hi N g f LOATS by students from Mrs. Huizenga’s first grade class

by Zachary Smith

When i Woke up I heard a rat-a-tat-tat. I went straight down the hallway and turned right and opened the attic door. I saw a green alien. The alien had eight eyes and four arms. He could make things in one minute. I grabbed him. He punched me in the nose. I called the army but the army didn’t believe me. I put him in the basement. He ran up the stairs and I told him to go back, but he didn’t do it. Then I picked him up, put him back, and put a gate up. I gave him some food. I wanted to keep him. I wanted to keep him forever.