A farmer's tale
<p>JEROME A. POLLOS/Press Sharalee Howard, an artist in residence at Sorensen Magnet School, assists Penelope Gates with binding her book as Reese Ramsrud, left, and Daisy-Kate Kimmel wait their turn Wednesday. Howard assisted kindergarten, first and second-grade students in designing, writing and crafting the books over a four-week period.</p>
<p>JEROME A. POLLOS/Press Students crafted the books to raise money for the Community Roots Local Food Share program. More than half of the 120 books have been sold for $20 each. The funds will purchase bikes and trailers for the Community Roots Local Food Share program to help transport food to local food banks.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - First, it was Martians.
Next, a dragon.
This time, we've got a farmer and some animals after his crops.
K-2 students at Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities, under the guidance of artist in residence Sharalee Howard, are today putting the finishing touches on their book, "The Story of Smelly McKelly."
About 150 students from six classes took part in the project that will offer proceeds from sales to purchase bikes and trailers for the Community Roots Local Food Share.
"I love it. I think it's something they're proud of," Howard said Wednesday as she watched a group of first-graders bind the cover and pages together.
For the past four weeks, students have been writing, illustrating and editing, with the goal of having 120 books that will sell for $20 each.
Already 70 have been purchased.
"Part of your job this weekend is to tell everyone how cool they are," Howard said.
Sorensen has done this twice before.
Four years ago, students produced 50 copies of "Juggling for Jupiter" to raise money for a school in Africa.
Two years ago, they were behind 300 copies of "Spike ... One Dragon's Tale," to raise money for a well in Ethiopia.
"The Story of Smelly McKelly," which tells how critters devoured the farmer's fruits and vegetables before he eventually - after a bit of a festive back and forth fuss involving fences, scarecrows, cages and chili peppers - teaches them to grow their own when he decides they're just hungry.
Each of the six classes wrote two pages.
Proceeds will provide volunteers with bikes to transport surplus produce from backyard and community gardens to food assistance facilities in the community.
After listening to Howard read the story with them, students quickly settled in with needle and thread and began binding pages.
"It's almost ready to sell, isn't it?" Howard asked.
The handwritten, handmade book is unique, Howard said. Students worked hard on the storyline and the artwork. You don't have to be a parent to love it.
"My theory is, if you're going to make something, make something you can't just go buy," she said.