Henry's Heart

Students have the unique opportunity to work on a new children’s book with author/illustrator Charise Mericle Harper — from beginning to end. The award-winning author invited the elementary school students to become an integral part of “Henry’s Heart,” from the rough manuscript to the finished product.

Each week Harper goes to a local elementary school and works with the children as they discover how books are written. Harper wrote “Henry’s Heart” about a little boy and his heart, which comes to life as a character all its own. Her story personifies the heart and addresses love, as well as health and fitness.

Like Henry’s heart, the interactive project took a life of its own in the form of weekly sessions with the elementary school’s 300 students--kindergarteners, first and second graders. The author and media specialist Linda Costelloe are setting up workstations from January through April, where the students can experiment with various types of paper, select winners of “font fights” or discuss healthy eating habits. Harper generously shares her creative license with the kids and welcomes their input regarding the paints and brushes to use for her illustrations, what Henry should wear or the type of tree she should depict.

The book will be published by Henry Holt next year. You can read more and follow the students' and book's progress here in weekly updates.