Eight-year-old Seaforth girl becomes published author

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 • Huron Expositor
17
Eight-year-old Seaforth girl becomes published author
Julia DeJong found an
outlet for her
creativity through a
London writing workshop
Vanessa Brown
The Huron Expositor
Like many kids, Julia DeJong practically grew up inside the four walls of the
local library. On most Saturday mornings, her mom Lisa would load up Julia
and her younger brother Christian and
walk the few blocks from their house.
Inside the red brick building, a brand
new world would open up to the children
on the second floor, where stacks of children’s books line the shelves.
When Julia began to draw, Lisa recalls
her daughter asking for coloured construction paper and markers so she could
write illustrative stories, which she would
leave behind on a table for other children
to leaf through.
“I actually like writing so much,” Julia
says. “While all my cousins went curling
down on the rink at Christmas, I was
writing in my new journal.”
Last Saturday morning, Julia returned
to the library that’s become the DeJong’s
“second home” a published author.
The branch’s Family Literacy Day program featured her new book, Karrisa,
Kent and The Lost Shoe, and Julia, who is
eight years old and in Grade 3 at St. James
School, was invited to sign copies.
Held each Jan. 27, Family Literacy Day
promotes parents and their children
reading and learning as a family for at
least 20 minutes a day so that kids not
only learn to read, but want to read.
Wanting to write is a bonus.
“I think this is just stunning that Julia
has done this. It shows tremendous courage to share her story in such a public
way,” says Margaret Eaton, president of
ABC Life Literacy Canada, which
founded the annual literacy event in
1999. “This is the triumph of family literacy because writing is a fantastic thing to
do to encourage an understanding of
sentence structure and vocabulary…
Vanessa Brown The Huron Expositor
Julia DeJong signs a copy of her new book, Karissa, Kent and The Lost Shoe, while Kiersten Bakelaar looks on.
which will better prepare them for higher
learning later in life.”
Karrisa, Kent and The Lost Shoe is the
product of a writing workshop Lisa
enrolled Julia in last fall. Along with
about seven other children, including a
friend from school, Julia learned such
things as how to craft an interesting plot
and story structure. For her book, she
borrowed an event from her own life that
BODY TALK
Free Presentation
Thursday, February 2, 2012
7-9 p.m.
Seaforth Community Centre
(upstairs)
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• Balance and Synchronize
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Call 519-345-2829
Vanessa Brown The Huron Expositor
Julia reads her story to area children at the Seaforth library Saturday morning.
occurred while the family
went camping last spring.
In the book, the main character’s younger brother Kent
loses his shoe in a deep mud
puddle in their backyard. This
happened to Julia’s brother
Christian, to whom the book
is dedicated, last spring.
Christian’s flip flop was never
found, but in the book, Karrisa and Kent’s mother fishes
it out by its shoelace.
Julia says it was never her
intention to write about that
event until she enrolled in
CONTINUED > PAGE 19
Isn’t It Nifty?
BRETT FINLAYSON
will be 50!
Happy
2nd Birthday
CARALI HUGILL
Jan. 30
Because some
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for someday.
Love
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Wednesday, February 1, 2012 • Huron Expositor
19
Valentine’s card party to be held in Dublin on Feb. 10
Dorothy Dillon
Dublin correspondent
Margaret Stewart, daughter
of David and Charlene were
baptized on Jan. 15 at St.
Katie Charlotte Meyer, James Church.
daughter of Scott and JeanA Valentine’s card party
ette and Lacey Elizabeth will be held Friday, Feb. 10 at
St. Patrick’s Parish Hall from
7 to 10 p.m. for both St.
Patrick’s and St. James.
The social committee has
booked a skating party at St.
Ja m e s a n d S t . Pa t r i c k ’s
parishes for Sunday, Feb. 26
from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the
Seaforth and District Community Centres. A hot dog
lunch and refreshments will
be provided. Skating is from
Do not look at the faults of
1-2 p.m. and games and
cards will be played in the what others have done or not
done; observe what you yourarena hall.
self have done or not done.
Thought for Today
Cavan United Church planning potluck supper with cards
Ruth Campbell
Winthrop correspondent
By the time you read this,
January will be over. It is
still snow one day, mild the
next. Makes one wonder
what February and March
will be like!
At Cavan United Church
on Sunday, Rachel Gras and
Ja c k Ca m p b e l l re a d t h e
story. Mary’s message was
titled “Listening for God’s
Voice.” Ann Bosman lit the
Christ candle. Jim and Ruth
Axtmann were greeters and
collectors. Carol and Marion
Hunt looked after the social
time after church.
Cavan’s annual meeting
will be held on Sunday, Feb.
5. For this Sunday only,
Northside service is at 9:30
a.m. and Cavan’s is at 11
a.m. with lunch and the
meeting to follow.
On Feb. 10, there will be a
potluck supper at Cavan
with cards to follow. Anyone
www.mcintee.ca
is invited to attend this meal
at 6:30 p.m.
Also, join us for coffee/tea
at the church on Fr iday
mornings at 9:30 a.m.
Food for Thought
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Eight-year-old Seaforth girl becomes published author
CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 17
the workshop.
The writing course stressed
the importance of children
writing for children, Lisa says.
“Their stories are largely
inspired by the things that go
on in their lives,” she explains.
“Other children can relate to
them, and I think it shows the
other kids that you can do anything you set your mind to.”
Firm believers of teaching
young children literacy skills
every day, Lisa and her husband Pat pursued an activity
that fits Julia’s interests rather
than continue to enroll her in
organized sports she didn’t
care for. She excels when she’s
able to use her creativity, Lisa
says, such as drawing, writing
songs, and coordinating routines at gymnastics.
“Some people worry about
that,” Lisa explains, “that their
kids don’t fit into a certain
clique. She’s always had that
keen interest in reading and
writing… We just want her to
do what’s right for her.”
Asked what she might like
to be when she grows up, she
says: “Maybe a writer, maybe
an artist. I like music so I
might be a songwriter.”
Julia has sold 100 copies of
Karrisa, Kent and The Lost
Shoe so far. She receives $1.50
from every book sold, which
she has decided to donate to
a children’s charity in Ghana
that her church is involved
with. Her donations will help
build a school there, and buy
soccer shoes for children.
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