67 Students Publish Classroom Books in California
Ceres Unified School District is honoring 67 students! We are thrilled to spotlight the incredible students of Adkison Elementary School in the Ceres Unified School District (Modesto, CA) for their brand-new anthology, Bee-ing Happy, created through a unique Authorship program with children’s author, Lisa Caprelli.
67 Students Publish Classroom Books in California – Celebrating Young Authors at Adkison Elementary: “Bee-ing Happy” Anthology Launch!
Twelve Student Teams, Two Dedicated Classrooms, One Inspiring Anthology!
We are thrilled to spotlight the incredible students of Adkison Elementary School in the Ceres Unified School District (Modesto, CA) for their brand-new anthology, Bee-ing Happy, created through a unique Authorship program with children’s author, Lisa Caprelli. This exciting partnership took students on a journey from imaginative brainstorming to finished, published work—teaching them the A to Z of writing, illustrating, and realizing their dreams as independent authors.
Ms. Howell’s and Mrs. Torres’s classes (12 teams in total) came together to produce two distinct books within the Bee-ing Happy anthology—each filled with imaginative stories and illustrations.
This collaborative project launched these talented students on their exciting journey as published children’s authors.
Two classrooms teamed up to make two unique books in an anthology to become children’s authors, alongside their teachers! Ms. Howell’s and Mrs. Torres’s classes came together to produce two distinct books within the Bee-ing Happy anthology. It began with a spark of inspiration: how can young learners bring their ideas, writing, drawings, and imaginative ideas to life? Under the guidance of their dedicated teachers, students discovered the entire creative process behind writing and publishing a book.
Celebrating Young Authors at Adkison Elementary: “Bee-ing Happy” Anthology Launch!
Get ready to be inspired by the next generation of creative minds!
From Vision to Book Signing
It all began with a spark of inspiration: how can young learners bring their stories, drawings, and imaginative ideas to life? Under the guidance of their dedicated teachers—Ms. Ellen Howell and Ms. Melissa Torres—students discovered the entire creative process behind bookmaking. They explored character building, story development, illustration, editing, and more. Along the way, Lisa Caprelli shared her own story of turning visions into reality, reminding everyone that, with hard work and enthusiasm, anyone can become an author or illustrator!
Adkison’s principal, Stephanie Pimentel, writes “This year, our 6th grade students had the incredible opportunity to partner with author Lisa Caprelli on their journey to becoming published authors. With the guidance of their dedicated teachers and support from Lisa, students worked collaboratively, shared their unique voices, and persevered through the creative process. It was a true team effort that led to a powerful celebration of student storytelling and achievement. I am so proud of our Gators!”
Now, these talented students are proudly revealing their published anthology, Bee-ing Happy, and inviting friends and family to celebrate at a live book signing and launch event on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. This special day is a testament to their teamwork, creativity, and perseverance.
Meet the Creative Teams
Each class formed teams with fun group names and unique perspectives to share. Together, they embraced themes of happiness, positive thinking, and dreaming big:
Throughout the project, these teams showcased their commitment to uplifting messages: Dream Big Dreams, Never Give Up, Rise Together Strong, Embrace the Joy, Imagine-Innovate-Inspire, and more. Each page of Bee-ing Happy bursts with bright artwork and heartfelt stories that prove imagination is a powerful tool for learning.
Join the Celebration!
Parents, families, and the local community are invited to attend the live book signing on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at Adkison Elementary. This event will celebrate the dedication of these young authors and illustrators, giving them the chance to autograph their very own published work.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see creativity in action, support budding authors, and discover how the Authorship program can transform a classroom’s learning experience. We look forward to celebrating each student’s journey—together, we can continue to nurture the dreamers, thinkers, and storytellers who will shape our future!
For more information and a sneak peek at Bee-ing Happy, visit UnicornJazz.com and follow us on social media for updates, photos, and highlights from this magical day. Let’s cheer on the next generation of authors—one page at a time!
