Kids Are Authors is an annual competition sponsored by Scholastic Book Fairs open to grades K-8 and designed to encourage students to use their reading, writing and artistic skills to create their own books. In 2002, two Londonderry kindergarten/1st grade classes won two of only 27 awards handed out nationwide in the annual contest, out of thousands of entries! Both books won honorable mention awards in the contest. The books were the only ones from Pennsylvania to be awarded in the 2002 contest. The entries were judged by a distinguished panel of authors/illustrators, including Jack Gantos, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Anne Mazer and Betsy Hearne.

The kids originally created the books in kindergarten as coloring books to share with friends. During their 1st grade year, the students decided to "colorize" their stories and enter them in the Kids Are Authors competition. A parent volunteer scanned the coloring book pages onto a CD, and the students "colored" their pages using Adobe Photoshop's paint bucket and paintbrush tools on the computer. The project was coordinated by art teacher, Cindi Hardwicke.

Londonderry published the books (with both books in one) through Freet Publishing Company in Willow Hill, Pennsylvania. Contact Cindi Hardwicke at Londonderry for details.

Proceeds from the sale of the book have been donated to Londonderry's Kid's Committee Fund. The Kid's Committee is a group of students from 1st through 8th grade that organizes fundraising events that include an annual Art Auction with student-created art. The committee is currently raising funds to purchase supplies for a garden site that the school has adopted on the Capital Area Greenbelt. The students have designed, planted, and maintained this garden site as well as installed benches and birdwatching binoculars. Funds will also be used to create our own Monet's Garden at school.

Congratulations to our talented students!

Judges' Comments: Beautiful, charming and imaginative; powerful simplicity of composition and color; art is beautiful.

Writers and Illustrators: Daniel Allegar, Trisha Baker, Caroline Cunfer, Maya Daley, Matthew Fulponi, Sarah Goldstein, Joey Good, Noah Goodnight, Harrison Katz, Mackenzie Luce, Morgan Luce, Nicholas Mackrides, and Celia Millard

Digital Artists: Daniel Allegar, Maya Daley, Noah Goodnight, Mackenzie Luce, Morgan Luce, Nicholas Mackrides and Celia Millard,

Judges' Comments: Artists are true to Monet's flowers; great job by kindergarteners; makes Monet's life accessible to kids; want to frame this art.

Writers and Illustrators: Allyn Rosenberger, Kierstyn Smith, Ethan Wayda, Alex Neil, Alexandra Fricchione, Jordyn Neihart, Daniel Morack, Lauren Walling. Joey Landis, and Katye Trexler

Digital Artists: Lauren Walling, Daniel Morack, Kierstyn Smith, Jordyn Neihart, Alex Neil, and Joey Landis