Book Project Celebrates Literature at Both Elementary and High School Levels

Photos provided by Hamilton school district.

Hamilton High School students visited second graders at Maple Avenue Elementary School on June 9 to read and distribute books that were inspired by the young students’ own artwork.

“I enjoyed having to creatively think about a storyline that not only uses all the characters the students gave us, but also incorporates enough humor for it to be interesting for the second graders,” explains Hamilton High School junior Vihaan Kulkarni. “The different types of characters made it really difficult to combine the stories in a fluent manner.”

Kulkarni is one of 10 Hamilton High School students who took part in the collaborative project as part of their AP English Language class. Second grade students were asked to draw pictures. High school students collected those drawings in May. Then the high school students worked together to write two stories and eventually create two books that feature the young students’ artwork.

The Hamilton High School students who participated in this project are Vihaan Kulkarni, Brody Carlson, Liam Petropoulos, Jacob Courchaine, Owen Pritzl, Kaviyan Jayalaksshme Srinivasan, Kshitij Batra, Miles Rauter, Mason Desai and Dakshin Thangaraj.

“There was such a variety of different characters and backgrounds which made for a surprising and interesting story,” says Hamilton High School junior Owen Pritzl. “I enjoyed seeing the kids’ drawings come to life in the book we created!”

Hamilton High School junior Kaviyan Jayalaksshme Srinivasan said they worked to incorporate lessons about understanding and friendship. He hopes the young students look back fondly on this project. “I want the students to remember that their drawings hold limitless possibilities in what stories they communicate to all,” says Srinivasan.

Hamilton High School junior Jacob Courchaine was glad to visit Maple Avenue Elementary School. “I enjoyed connecting with the younger kids and going back to a place I haven't been in years,” said Courchaine.

“We had a great time collaborating with the second grade students,” says Kulkarni, who also wanted to thank his Hamilton High School AP English Language teacher. “Mrs. Kowalske also gave us great support by checking our work and working with us through the process of bookmaking.”

Hamilton High School Junior Kshitij Batra hopes the second graders remember this project for years to come. “I hope they remember that people value their creativity, and that a bunch of high school students valued it so much that they turned it into a book!”