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Community Corner

Local Author & Illustrator Inspires Pinckney Students

Author and illustrator Aaron Zenz recently challenged the students of St. Mary Catholic School in Pinckney.

 “I bet at least one of you will write or illustrate a book one day,” he said.  “And when you do, I want you to track me down, and I will sit on the floor and listen while you read your book to me!”

 The students laughed, but his message got through – if their dream is to one day make a book, that dream can come true.

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 Zenz has written and illustrated children's books like “The Hiccupotomus,” “Chuckling Ducklings,” and “The Chimpansneeze.” 

 He spoke at St. Mary's in preparation of a writer's fair the school is hosting in May. Zenz presented three, one-hour-long workshops to the students, according to their grade level. He discussed the process involved in writing, illustrating, and printing a book.

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 “It was awesome,” said Principal Veronica Kinsey.  “He was very funny, especially with the younger kids.  The kids were glued to everything he was saying. He related each lesson to the group of kids he had with him.”

 In fact, second grader Luke Schultz most enjoyed the part in his class' presentation when Zenz was trying to draw a picture, but his puppet Opie kept hiccuping.  “It messed up the picture!” he laughed.

Zenz explained that, as a child, he always was writing books and drawing pictures – “and (he) just kept at it.”

Zenz shared some tricks of his trade, like drawing a “thumbnail” sketch to get started, and not being afraid to be messy in the early stages of idea development.  Then he told the students, “You know how to draw circles, you've used colored pencils, and you know how to write – you know all my secrets!”

 “There's nothing I know about being an author and illustrator that you don't already know,” he added. “You can go home and practice today.  It's one of the few jobs that you, as a kid, don't have to wait to learn about and practice.”

 Seventh-grader Olivia Oakes wants to study literature and art in college, and said her favorite part of the presentation was “all of it.” “Literature and art are my two most favorite things in the world,' she said.  “We (got) to see the perspective off (that job) from somebody who’s already done it.”

 St. Mary School is enrolling students in preschool – grade 8. For more information, call 734-878-5616 or visit stmaryschoolpinckney.org.

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