Imagine reliving childhood memories of a snow day off school, of snowball fights, snow forts and fun. Now imagine describing that in Spanish to children who may never have experienced snow.

 

That’s what Maria Gorski of Larsen in Winnebago County, did in a children’s book she created, titled El día de la nieve / A Snow Day. It was part of a Spanish class taught by Professor Elia Armacanqui-Tipacti at UW-Stevens Point.  

 

Each student in the intermediate Spanish composition wrote a story, then developed art and binding for the book. “I had a blast making it. I could dive into my creative side,” said Gorski, who is majoring in art-graphic design. She sketched art for her book. Others used clipart or found other images.

 

The books were shipped to Nicaragua this week, along with semi-trailers of humanitarian supplies as part of the Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners program. Children, many of whom have never owned a book, will be able to select from more than 50 books. “It’s going to be huge for them. Most of them don’t have that opportunity,” said Amy Wiza, program director.

 

The project was relevant to students, “knowing other people would see it and use it, and my name is on it,” Gorski said.

 

A goal is to motivate young Nicaraguan children to develop their reading skills Armacanqui-Tipacti said, noting most Latin American children do not have books.  “I’m so delighted they used this opportunity to learn more, share their works, and put them on a shelf for children. It’s wonderful,” she said.

 

Writing for children in Spanish was a useful exercise, said Robert Ehr, who created “El conejo y la Tortuga / The Rabbit and the Turtle.” Students practiced grammar and writing in various tenses. They also learned about themselves.

 

“It gave me a better sense of my culture and how to show it to others,” said Ehr of Burlington.

 

Students wrote about nature in Wisconsin, a day at the zoo, Wisconsin sports, tourist attractions and farm life, among other interest areas.

 

Armacanqui-Tipacti said she was impressed with the variety in themes, sizes and colors of books students created. She suggested a range of possible topics, and students chose their individual themes.. They submitted manuscripts for her careful review of language, usage and grammar and wrote brief autobiographies, some with pictures.

 

Initially, some of her students were overwhelmed with the thought of writing, creating art and compiling a children’s book.  “Now they appreciate what they did,” Armacanqui-Tipacti said.

 

The books will be available for children to check out at learning centers in Nicaragua, Wiza said. “Kids gravitate to the homemade books,” she said.

 

This UW-Stevens Point class is the first to create children’s books in Spanish.

 

“It’s a win-win situation,” Wiza said. “This satisfies all the requirements of their writing-emphasis class, and kids in Nicaragua get books.”