By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer

Cooperstown Central School second grader Emma Johnson will soon be a published writer.

Each student in Michealle Cole’s second grade class was assigned to write and illustrate a book and, according to Cole, each student was given the opportunity to enter their stories in the Reading Rainbow 15th annual Young Writers & Illustrators Contest sponsored by WSKG Public Broadcasting Association and Smarterville Productions LLC.

Cole said it was the first time she encouraged her students to participate in the contest and about 12 students decided to go for it.

Johnson was awarded honorable mention for her book ``The Adventures of Penguins.’’

``It is so exciting that someone got something,’’ said Cole. ``Kids from all over the country partook in the contest so it is a big deal.’’

Cole said she believes Johnson’s book stood out because she has a higher level of illustration skills than most students her age.

``Her pictures were gorgeous,’’ said Cole. ``She also had a great storyline.’’ Johnson said she did not want to enter the contest at first because she wanted to show it to her parents, Ann Eldred and Bob Johnson, first. She said once Cole let the students take the books home for approval for the contest, her parents encouraged her to enter because they thought it was a good book.

Johnson said she was glad she entered because it felt good to be recognized for her work. She said she was able to attend a banquet held in May where she received a ribbon and certificate for her honorable mention.

Cole said all her students who participated in the contest were given a certificate, which she thought was a good self-esteem booster. ``It was a really great contest,’’ said Cole, who said she plans on making it an annual tradition for students in her class.

According to Cole, the project took about three weeks for the students to complete. She said the students used the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing that the district has adopted to teach different stages of the writing process, which includes pre-writing, writing, editing and final copy and presentation.

Johnson said she chose to write a story about penguins because they are her favorite animal. The second grader said she has always been interested in penguins and drawing, but has not had much enthusiasm for writing.

When asked if the project has sparked an interest to write more, Johnson said she really prefers art and the illustration side of storytelling. ``Maybe I could one day illustrate for a famous author who writes about penguins,’’ said Johnson.

Johnson describes her book as an adventure, but says it is also ``sort of funny.’’ She said the story is about newborn penguins that get lost. During the penguin’s journey to find their way home, they meet many other penguins that each have something unique about them, said Johnson.

``One penguin even speaks Spanish,’’ said Johnson with a smile. ``I included Spanish words in my book.’’

Johnson said the penguins do eventually find their way home, but the book does not exactly have a happily ever after ending because there are no penguins left when they return. The book concludes with the little penguins making their own ``penguin house,’’ said Johnson.

The Young Writers & Illustrators Contest is open to students in kindergarten through third grade. According to rules, stories can be fact or fiction, prose or poetry and stories must include at least five original, clear and colorful illustrations.

Johnson said she created all of her illustrations except for the cover, which she used an illustration from a calendar.

According to contest rules, entries are judged based on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustrations.

Contest winners and more information about each student’s book will be posted at pbskids.org/readingrainbow after August 1.