It’s not every day local elementary school students grace the pages of a children’s book, so the November 22 release of “Henry’s Heart” by Charise Mericle Harper was cause to celebrate.
By Janice Llanes Fabry
It’s not every day local elementary school students grace the pages of a children’s book, so the November 22 release of “Henry’s Heart” by Charise Mericle Harper was cause to celebrate.
Two years ago, Ms. Harper invited Rye Neck’s current second, third, and fourth graders to become an integral part of her book. The award-winning author took the Daniel Warren students from the rough manuscript of “Henry’s Heart” to the finished product through weekly interactive workshops. For three months, they were involved in the illustrations, as well as the choices of fonts, paint, and paper.
“It was an incredible experience for our students to get inside the head of an illustrator and to experience the joys, difficulties, and frustrations of writing a children’s book,” explained Media Specialist Linda Costelloe. “Charise showed us that we could bring out the author and illustrator within ourselves. The kids were empowered.”
Author of the popular “Fashion Kitty” and “Just Grace” books and a Rye Neck parent herself, Ms. Harper explained that her goal was to take the young students, all 350 of them, through the process. “Wouldn’t it be cool if I could show the kids it’s not magic that makes a book, but a lot of hard work? This book means more to me than the others. I hope the Daniel Warren students feel they wrote it, too.”
The sweet tale about a boy, his talking heart and a new best friend depicts the anatomy of the heart and encourages exercise and healthy eating habits. Ms. Harper incorporated Daniel Warren kids’ healthy snack ideas, as well as their designs of Henry and his sister’s clothing and their collage buildings.
During a December 1 celebration, poster boards highlighted the students’ contributions to “Henry’s Heart”. Ms. Costelloe described the evening best: “The school has been abuzz with Charise fervor. We are grateful for the incredible gift she has given to these kids and to us all. Around here, she’s a rock star.”
On a memorable dedication page, Ms. Harper included each student’s name, along with the teachers. During the presentation, she told them, “I am so proud of you. Whenever you see ‘Henry’s Heart’ anywhere in the world, your name will be in the book.”
