Young Authors of Utah

Nurture the Creative Mind - About the Program

The idea that started the Young Authors of Utah Project is simple:

Students are motivated to write and perfect their writing, IF they have a real audience and purpose.
The persistence needed during a revision process with relevant feedback from the intended audience is fueled by another obvious motivator: What I do makes a difference to someone else - in this case, children in k-2 grades throughout Utah.

Our purpose is based on solid research that suggests students need engaging reading on TOPICS of interest; that is content. Our focus is on the content in Science for K-2nd graders as well as concepts in social studies like other countries and cultures.

Our original inspiration came from the extraordinary work of Amir Jackson, founder and director of an Ogden after school program: Nurture the Creative Mind.

Enthusiasm from school librarians, energetic secondary teachers, principals, Boys and Girls Club of Utah County, Capital City Education and superintendents in Weber, North Sanpete, and Salt Lake and the innovative leaders of design thinking at Thanksgiving Point are making this experience possible.

Registration for the 2015-2016 school year is closed.

Freddie the Penguin is the first book in the Young Authors of Utah series.

PDF

Author Reading

Written by Isabella Hill
Illustrated by Lauren Crest

About the Book

Author, Isabella Hill, and Illustrator, Lauren Crest, of Freddie the Penguin along with Amir Jackson, founder of Nurture the Creative Mind, share their experience of creating and supporting the memorable penguin.

Other children’s books, written by middle and high school students from across Utah, will be highlighted in this digital library: Utah’s Children’s Press!

About the Author

About the Illustrator

All the final 36 manuscripts, developed by the 2015 cohort of 4 schools, are being published for a locally organized book signing in each community for family and friends.

The Young Authors Advisory Board has selected 12 books to be included in the online digital environment, supported by UEN. Books have been organized by grade bands: K-3; 4-6; 6-8

Grades K-3 Grades 4-6 Grades 6-8