Future authors explored their creative side Saturday afternoon during the Reading Rainbow Writing and Illustration Workshop held at the Book Grinder.

The Book Grinder partnered with KPTS to bring the workshop, for youth in kindergarten up to third grade, to El Dorado.

Pat Clough, with KPTS, was on hand to explain to the kids what they would be doing.
“You are writing a book,” she told the kids. “You are going to be the author; you are going to be the illustrator.

“Once you get that done, you will have done something most of the big people in this room have not done.”

She also told the young writers about a book.

“A story usually has a beginning and it usually has an end, and it usually has something in the middle,” Clough said.

They had to have five things for the story: setting, plot, main characters, problem and resolution, and at least five illustration.

The books could be any shape or size. She even told of one girl who made hers out of cardboard, so she could glue beads, macaroni and other items onto it.

“I don’t want your imagination to be in a box,” she said.

The only requirement was that it all be original. No stickers or rubber stamps allowed.

All of the books submitted are judged for awards, with some going on to a national competition.

To get them started, participants got to create “doodle” pages. These were made with crayons, tape and watercolor paints.

Veda Ligon was enjoying creating things. She liked the painting and coloring best.
She also likes books.

“You can get information from them,” she said.

Her story was going to be a “once upon a time” book about a horse that likes to hoola-hoop.

This is the 14th year for this book project and the 12th year for KPTS to be involved.

They are trying to get 500 books submitted this year.

“I want to keep this going,” Sandra Emlet, owner of the Book Grinder, said.

The workshops are held three times a year.

“I want to get her every time,” she said.