News
Commuter Cars Shares WeWrite’s Vision
Rick Woodbury of Commuter Cars Corporation, creator of the Tango - the world’s fastest urban car, understands the openmindedness of children to new and forward-thinking ideas.
“I like the idea of allowing kids to create the story instead of adults because the kids haven’t learned to be limited as to what ‘can’t be done’ yet. It’s the same reason that kids get the Tango. I’ve presented my idea to adults and kids from all over, and the kids ‘get it’ right away.”
WeWrite encourages children to use their innate creativity to examine problems in the world and seek out solutions. Rick shares this point of view.
“We have many problems in the world today: war, crime, poverty and so on. I don’t know how to solve those problems, but the commuting problem I do know how to solve, and that’s what keeps me going.”
WeWrite and Commuter Cars hope to collaborate in the near future.
WeWrite, LightMoves, and International Dark-Sky Association Plan Series of Books By Kids for Kids About Light Pollution
WeWrite is proud to announce a strategic alliance with LightMoves to create and publish a series of books that give children a voice in their future and in preserving our natural resources. James R. Helmer, President of LightMoves is convinced of the importance of empowering children by giving children a voice today. “Today’s decisions must be made in such a way that these decisions protect our natural resources and the quality of life for generations.”
International Dark-Sky Association also supports this effort. Johanna Duffek, Outreach & Education Manager is excited. “We are looking forward to…an introductory book about the negative impact of too much artificial light at night…. We don’t want kids to grow up being afraid of the dark and not knowing the wonders of a natural night sky.”
Robert L. Eramia of Seattle, Washington joins the team, bringing his expertise, interest in astronomy and the natural wonders of outdoors. Robert provides research for potential contacts and sponsors for funding of this first-ever project.
About WeWrite LLC—
WeWrite LLC, an acknowledged leader in kid-to-kid literature since 1993, specializes in publishing books by kids for kids. Over 50 group-authored books have been created within book-writing workshops, with an illustrator sketching while children share their kid-wisdom with the world. http:://www.wewrite.net/
About LightMoves—
LightMoves, founded by James R. Helmer, with over 30 years of transportation and lighting expertise, provides public agencies and companies innovative roadway lighting and transportation solutions in a safe and sustainable way. http:://www.lightmoves.us.com/
About International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)—
IDA’s mission is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. http:://www.darksky.org/
Download International Dark-Sky Association’s letter of support
Community Leaders Support WeWrite Kids
Paul Yeadon (left), owner of AIM Mail and Print Center, Los Gatos, California welcomes WeWrite Kids and parent Cathy Phipps (right), for their book-writing workshop.
AIM Mail and Print Center, Los Gatos, CA hosts a session of the We're All Moving! book-writing workshop on April 25, 2009.
Mike Aguilera, producer of the Baby Boomer Senior Expo 2009, Santa Clara Convention Center peeks in on the progress of the We're All Moving! story during the show, April 26, 2009.
Community Leaders Support WeWrite Kids
Kids Author Program Targets Non-Readers
By John Sammon of the Santa Cruz Sentinel
A literacy program designed to get children reading by involving them in the nuts and bolts of publishing a book, and giving them the pride of authorship, is targeted at kids who don’t customarily like to read.
“In that way, we’re unique in the publishing business,” said Delores Palmer, president and CEO of WeWrite LLC, a Ben Lomond-based publishing house. “We’ve been doing this for fifteen years. We gather the kids together, and capture their words.” The firm will sponsor book two writing workshops to be held April 25 at the Aim Mall and Print Center in Los Gatos, and April 26 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The event will feature several area children, a nationally known illustrator, and a musician who will create a song for the project.
“The kids come up with the ideas for the book,” Palmer said. “What we’re trying to do here is get kids hooked into reading.”
The children are provided a theme, and led by a facilitator, given free license to think up the book’s story while their comments are noted down and an illustrator sketches their ideas. The end result is a 64-page full-color educational book that becomes available for purchase at participating book stores across the country.
An average print run is 10,000 books, at a total production cost of $70,000 (individual books retail for $11.95 in bookstores). The cost is made back by sales to the general public, or corporate sponsorship and distribution. Companies sponsoring a book can use it as a marketing tool, for promotion of a particular industry, or as a fund raiser. A writer and former library director in Illinois, Palmer founded WeWrite in 1993. She said the idea of involving children in the production of books proved an instant success. “Children just flocked to it,” she said. “The children get the experience of a lifetime. They see their names on the book, and they get their pictures in the back of the book. They’re so proud.”
The children vote amongst themselves on what ideas go into a book, and also take part in the editing process, offering ideas on what changes should be made. Angela Hesse of Ben Lomond, 13, said the fun was making up a story. “It was awesome to be a part of it,” she said. “It’s fun to be creative.”
Palmer said the experience also gives the children a chance to interact with adults who value their comments and ideas.
Past efforts produced a book about children’s thoughts in the aftermath of the 9-11 Trade Center bombing titled “War? I’m Scared!” Another envisioned what the world would have been like without Abraham Lincoln, titled “Mr. Lincoln and the Time Train,” voted best children’s book on Lincoln by a historical organization, the Lincoln Group of New York. Yet another project is all about a family moving from Jupiter to Earth titled “We’re All Moving.”
Palmer said the joy of authoring a book generates enthusiasm for both writing and literacy. “The children say to themselves, I can do this,” Palmer said.
People interested in the program may call 831-336-3382, or go to company’s website at Wewrite.net for more information.
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