First Grade students at Stuart Elementary capped off an annual project Friday with the school’s twelfth annual book signing ceremony.

Each year the students write and illustrate a picture book based on the themes and lessons they learned to enhance their reading and writing skills. Lori Cook’s class unveiled their book, “Scarecrow Joe and the Battle of the Crow,” in dramatic fashion with a drum-roll and wand-waving. Then each student read sections of the whole book aloud in front of the audience. They also presented one book each to school custodian Becky Huddleson, and the Stuart and Menlo public libraries. The ceremony concluded with the traditional autographs by the young authors.

Cook tells Raccoon Valley Radio this event has become quite the legacy at the elementary. “It’s really interesting because each year we read the books from previous years and the boys and girls who have older siblings always say, ‘I’ve already seen that. My brother (or sister) has it.’ So I know that they keep them and they read them and that they become very much keepsakes for the kids.”

Cook says in addition to reading and writing skills they also learn how to follow directions and have a sense of creativity. She also thanks the school’s Parent Teacher Organization for purchasing the books for the kids. Later in the afternoon, Julie Plowman’s class presented their book, “Sting the King’s Bad Day…Changed.”