Recipes for Life
By Josephine Waltz

Proud teacher moment – Josephine Waltz, above, with the original letters between students and authors that would later be published in Write Out of the Oven! (Teacher Ideas Press, 2005).

"WE DID IT! It is the most wonderful feeling. I can say that I'm in a book, that something I wrote is in a published book." –Amanda Richelo, sixth-grade student

My sixth-grade students loved reading. Authors like Natalie Babbitt and Theodore Taylor were like old friends. I wanted to celebrate literacy, and also create something that could raise funds to support literacy projects, so I challenged my students to write to their favorite authors and ask each for a recipe. The end result of this multi-year letter-writing project is the book Write Out of the Oven! Letters and Recipes From Children's Authors (Teacher Ideas Press, 2005). My students were thrilled to become first-time authors, and so was I. Even better, proceeds are donated to the Children's Literacy Foundation (CliF), a Vermont-based nonprofit that awards sponsorships to rural public libraries, as well as to children served by women's shelters, homeless shelters, centers for at-risk youth and bookmobiles in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Curriculum, guidelines and the writing process. I created this project first knowing that writing skills support reading skills. The project satisfied student-learning objectives and our curricular focus on reading, writing and research.

Students first began by selecting a favorite author; their choices represented a wonderful range of writers. To help keep track, I made a large chart. We discussed the different parts of a friendly letter. Students then brainstormed possible topics to include in their letters. They decided to begin with a brief introduction of themselves and an explanation as to why they chose the author. I set up milestones for the project. As each child completed one, they checked it off on their folders. Then, paragraph by paragraph, the letters began to take form.

Since students were familiar with plot, foreshadowing, flashback, character development, setting, climax, imagery and much more, I tried to reinforce these skills by having them identify some of these devices in their favorite book written by their favorite author. The students wrote a brief literary analysis of the author's book, which they added to their letters, along with a few questions. Later we visited our school library to locate biographical information. Students practiced research skills and learned how to locate author websites. Specifically, the students looked for unique and interesting details about the authors.

A crucial part of the letter still needed to be developed: the purpose and goal for our project. I showed students persuasive writing techniques. Strong and vivid words became the order of the day, along with a request for the author's favorite recipe. Students explained that our cookbook was for a worthy cause and that the favorite recipe was a major component of this project. The students ended their letters by thanking the authors. Once the letters were proofread and edited, students decorated the margins with lovely spot art to symbolize the author's theme. I was amazed at the honest, heartfelt letters they wrote.

Student Caroline Perry enjoys author Dick King-Smith's favorite recipe, "Leek Onion and Potato Soup," while reading his books.

A postal challenge. We needed author addresses so we could mail the letters. I discovered a wonderful book series called "Something About the Author" (Thomson Gale). Each volume contains illustrated biographical articles on approximately 70 children's authors and illustrators. Students found authors' addresses in these books. Most students also checked the copyright page in their book for the publisher; with help from the Internet, every child had a forwarding address. We stuffed SASEs into brightly colored envelopes, crossed our fingers and mailed the letters.

Within a week I was besieged with, "Did I get a letter? Did I get a letter?" At first, a few letters were returned – incorrect address, return to sender. That didn't stop us, though. Students went back to the Internet and continued to search for other addresses. Letters were mailed again. We waited.

In the weeks that followed a letter arrived stamped with the words Royal Mail. I knew it was from England. A reply from Dick King-Smith – student Caroline Perry had received a letter from her hero! We were elated. The author had not only sent a leek onion and potato soup recipe, but had also written a beautiful personal letter to Caroline, a treasure unto itself. More letters arrived; I posted an updated list of authors on my classroom door. The halls were abuzz!

The next three years. I continued the project the following year with a new group of students. By the end of the second year, over 50 children's authors – including Judy Blume, Natalie Babbitt, Theodore Taylor, Karen Cushman, Meg Cabot and E.L. Konigsburg – had replied.

I began to send query letters to publishers, but no publishing house expressed interest. I was determined not to let my students down so I kept trying. During the summer of 2003, I attended a writer's workshop led by author Maureen Barbieri, who suggested I approach educational publishers. That was the key I'd been looking for. Within the next few months, Teacher Ideas Press acquired the manuscript. After many more months of testing recipes and revisions, Write Out of the Oven! was released on January 27, 2005.

We had reached our goal. Now we could support CliF; other children could enjoy reading books and love them, as we did!

Along the way, we learned life lessons. "It takes patience, perseverance, and luck for dreams to be fulfilled," I told my students. "Dream big dreams." And they did. As for myself, I learned about the publishing world and developed a keen appreciation for the art of revision. I now bring my experiences back to my students.

Josephine Waltz has been a public school teacher since 1974. She teaches sixth-grade reading, gifted children and enrichment classes at William Annin Middle School in Basking Ridge, NJ.

March, 2007, Vol.37, No.6