Ranch seniors turn a new page with young readers

When she woke up May 1, Kaianna Jones, 6, knew she would go on an adventure, if only from her desk in her classroom.

She knew “big kids” would read to her throughout the day, and she couldn’t wait to hear about make-believe worlds.

“I love stories, especially fairy tales,” Jones sad. “It’s fun to pretend.” 

Jones was transported to a beach and a zoo when Lakewood Ranch High School seniors showcased children’s stories they wrote and illustrated at the annual Winnie the Pooh and Shakespeare, Too event May 1, at William H. Bashaw Elementary School.

Six buses hauled 270 students to the school for story time and book-related activities. 

English instructor Candice DeLazzer tasked seniors in the fall with crafting a children’s story with illustrations that teaches the children moral lessons while also being entertaining.

Students drew from personal experiences to create stories.

Carolina Fernandez, who with her teammates wrote “Lucy’s Adventure with Chico,” knew she had her story’s setting in her Myakka backyard.

 “We live on a farm, and I always loved animals,” Fernandez said. “So I thought the kids would like a story about animals, too, and we came up with a story about a child at a zoo.”

Former educators and husband-wife duo Frank and Andy Anderson created the event 21 years ago to bridge a relationship between elementary and high school students, while promoting reading at a young age.

“This isn’t story time; these high-school kids are learning what it’s like to play a role in a child learning to read,” Frank Anderson said.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].