Knowing that creative writing for children promotes imagination, teaches persuasiveness and discipline as well as helping with grammar and spelling skills, the East Norwalk Library will be offering "KID LIT" - a creative writing program for children.
The program "team" will include Jon Rothenberg, and his son Robbie who writes under the name, Robert Jon Hemingway (he is the great-grandson of the legendary author, Ernest Hemingway); Phyllis Asher, a retired Brookside School teacher, and RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) volunteer, and Stan Siegel, East Norwalk Library Executive Director.
The weekly "KID LIT" program will be open to children between the ages of 8 and 13 with each 4-session course held on Saturday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30. The program will be designed as a school term and each class limited to 8 participants. Depending of demand, and interest among older children - 14 through 18, additional classes will be organized.
At the start of each class Rothenberg and Hemingway will introduce the students to their creative writing experience and technique and distribute copies of their latest book "Aunt Yeti and Uncle Eddie" as an inspiration example of how imagination and life's experiences can be developed into a story book - either fact or fiction. A brainstorming session will follow as led by Mrs. Asher and other RSVP volunteers to help the students focus first, on a theme for their very own book. Subsequent classes will focus on each student developing their own short story with their work "published" by the East Norwalk Library as a book. The students, too, may offer ideas for illustrating their book of including their own drawing or sketches depending upon the theme or type of book they create.
Robbie's first book - "Adventures, While I Sleep" - was inspired by his great-grandfather's "The Old Man and the Sea." Robbie's story is about a boy who falls asleep and dreams of a sea-going adventure. "It all started," Robbie explained, "from conversations with my father based upon bits and pieces of stories I had been writing." Then living in Florida, Robbie, with help from his dad, his mother -- Mina Hemingway - his brothers and school teacher he wrote his first book. "It was a team effort," Robbie said, "and that's what I'm interested in the East Norwalk Library Creative Writing Program - it'll be a team effort, you always get everything accomplished best that way." Robbie is 12 years old, and is in the 6th grade at West Rocks Middle School.
“It was Robbie’s interest in turning his imagination into a printed story,” explains Rothenberg, “that gave me reason to “partner” with the East Norwalk Library’s creative writing program for children. This resourceful series can be an inspiration for other budding young authors.”
“The East Norwalk Library,” says Siegel, “continues to look for ways to provide useful educational and entertaining opportunities as services to its community.” Siegel added: “A library, today, is many things, books and more. The “KID LIT” Creative Writing Program for children is but one such example of our dedication geared toward that purpose.”
For registration and scheduling information regarding participation in the “KID LIT” program, call the Library at 203-838-0408 ext. 100 or email: mail@eastnorwalklibrary.org, or visit www.eastnorwalklibrary.org.
The East Norwalk Library, located at 51 Van Zant Street, is open Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 5:30; Saturday 9:30 to 5:30; closed Sundays and Holidays.
