Tales from the kids are being published

Students are writing, rewriting, and illustrating their own stories. And with the touch of binding and laminating machines, the books are published by the school's Palm Lakes Publishing Co.

The books are on display from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the first Writers Fair in the school's media center, 7450 W. 16th Ave. There will be a special reception at the school for parents from 5 to 7 p.m.

And these young authors aren't at a loss for words. Enrique Perez and Reynaldo Meneses -- who both recently arrived from Cuba -- filled nine pages about Reynaldo's four-month stay in a refugee camp at the Guantanamo Naval Base.

Reynaldo, 10, told the story in Spanish, and Enrique, 10, wrote it down in English.

``When I didn't understand,'' Enrique said, ``I looked in the dictionary.''

An illustration of a barbed-wire fence haunts the cover of their book dedicated ``to all good people.'' Between the pages, Reynaldo talks about life behind that fence, showers with only a bucket full of water and the fear of bombs planted to wound escapees.

``I was a little nervous writing about Guantanamo,'' Reynaldo said.

The students will take the books home at the end of the year. Teachers select the top stories for a schoolwide anthology published quarterly. They've published three so far this year.

``We are preparing them to be able to communicate in the work world of tomorrow,'' Principal Rosa Calvo said. ``They are learning to be outstanding writers.''

Students pick their own topics, which range from the personal to the fanciful.

Picture Christian Pacheco's story about Pecky the woodpecker:

Pecky broke his beak when he flew into a tree trunk. No problem, Pecky said. He used an electric pencil sharpener to repair it.

``[The idea] just came to me,'' said Christian, 10.

Kimberly Cabak's story idea arrived at her house seven months ago. It was her baby brother Christopher, and it was a miracle, Kimberly, 6, wrote.

``He is so cute and he is soft and he likes to play,'' said Kimberly, who won second place in the county's Books With Wings contest.

The book surprised her mother, Barbara Cabak.

``I was very touched because those are her true feelings,'' Cabak said. ``And she already wants to be an author.''