The students began the assignment by reading Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan and Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. Both of these books served as the foundation for a class discussions on the theme, “coming of age.” From there, Ms. Leibowitz assigned the students to write and illustrate children’s books, which examined the following essential questions:

• How do our opinions of ourselves affect what others think of us?
• What is the importance of friends and family in our lives?
• How can we recognize the worth of all human beings?
• What is the origin and value of a positive self-image?

In their manuscripts, the students also focused on character development; setting and mood; plot and conflict; and point of view. Once edited the students ventured to Scribble Press, located on First Avenue and 84th Street.

There, the budding authors created their books which varied widely in their illustrative styles and story lines. The authors produced diverse work, but they still managed to address the requirements and spirit of the assignment. This process exemplifies the Dalton Plan Assignment in practice. It gave these budding authors free reign to create books which were uniquely their own, while they clearly demonstrated newly acquired knowledge as defined by the Assignment's essential questions. This was an exciting and immersive real-life experience, just as Helen Parkhurst would have imagined.

View more page samples and images of the students working on their books in the associated media gallery.