Although my college graduation was almost 50 years ago—but who’s counting?—I continue to go back to school on a regular basis. I enjoy attending classes, workshops, and seminars, whether they’re to learn something totally new, to get advanced training, or just for fun. I’ve been in junior college courses, community ed classes, Bible studies, and master-level programs.

And now I’ve gone back to kindergarten.

It was Pre-K, actually, and I wasn’t exactly enrolled in the class. Instead, I was taking part in a program developed by Georgia Writers Museum and designed for kids from Pre-K through second grade. Each class meets in the library of the school, where volunteers read them a children’s book written by a Georgia author. That’s followed by a craft or activity that complements the story. The book we read was My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World, and it’s about a boy whose class was given a homework assignment to bring in their favorite book. After struggling to find a favorite book, the boy decided to write his own. It was a story about himself, and about his journey of trying to find his favorite book.

Our activity for the class was for each of them to “write” their own book about themselves. We distributed 8-page booklets that had spaces for them to print their name and age—with help from us if needed—and drawings of different foods and activities. They could color in their favorite ones, or draw and color their own. There were also places for them to color in their eyes and hair, and to draw a picture of themselves or their families.

It’s been a long time since I interacted with 4- and 5-year-olds on a regular basis, so I was happy to be reminded of how creative and enthusiastic kids this age can be. I enjoyed seeing drawings of eyes and hair that matched those of the “author,” as well as those with green hair or purple eyes. I enjoyed hearing all about their pets, and how much they were loved. And I enjoyed the fact that even though pizza was by far the favorite “favorite food” selected, a few actually chose broccoli and apples, and knew the difference between foods that were healthy and those that were less so.

As I drove  home from the school, I couldn’t help but smile as I thought about these kids, and wonder what the future would hold for each of them. Whatever that may be, I hope that when they reach my age, many years from now, they’ll look back on the story of their lives and find that it will, indeed, be their very favorite book in the whole wide world.

January 19, 2024
©Betty Liedtke, 2024

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