Fifteen Hartford Public Schools students were among the winners of the 2024 REACH Young Author Awards! The annual writing contest is put on by the Hartford Public Library and the Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (SINA), a partnership with Connecticut Children's, Hartford Hospital, and Trinity College.
This year, 94 young authors and illustrators from Hartford wrote a total of 54 books centered on the theme of disability awareness. The judging committee selected a total of 13 books as the winners. Seven of those winning books are by Hartford Public Schools students, and the rest were written by students at CREC Ana Grace Academy, CREC Montessori Magnet, and Glastonbury East Hartford Magnet. The winning books were published, printed and bound and are now on display at the Hartford Public Library Park Street Branch.
The winners from Hartford Public Schools are:
All About Blindness is written and illustrated by Mercy HseeZar, a second-grade student at Maria Sanchez Elementary School. This book is centered around the disability of blindness.
A Tale of Two Friends is written by Jennyeliz Fontanez & Wilson Escalante-Morales and illustrated by Saniyah Feliciano and Daily Velasquez-Garcia. They are fifth graders in the Hispanic Health Council’s after-school program at Maria Sanchez School. The book is about how two people became best friends despite each other's differences.
Charlie and the Spelling Bee is written and illustrated by Myah Cruz, a third-grade student at Maria Sanchez Elementary School. This book is about a girl with autism who is adamant about proving that she can achieve her goals.
Charlie's Broken Leg is written by Victor Rojas & Jonathan Valez and illustrated by Randy Gonzalez & Adrian Jimenez. They are fifth-grade students in the Hispanic Health Council’s after-school program at Maria Sanchez. The book is about a dog who has to relearn how to walk after his leg is amputated.
Delilah is Dyslexic it written by Aaliyah Lawrence, a fifth grader at Noah Webster Microsociety Magnet School (pictured above) and illustrated by her cousin Jomyra Valentin of CREC Academy of Aerospace & Engineering Elementary School. The book is about learning to deal with a disability and standing up for yourself.
Rainbow Smile is written and illustrated by Anaya Gupta, a third grader at Betances Learning Lab. This is her second year in a row winning a REACH Young Authors Award. The book is about the importance of empathy, friendship, and creativity in overcoming challenges like a disability.
The Cat with Three Legs is written and illustrated by Ashly Tema & Joniel Navarro Cintron. They are fourth and fifth-grade students in the Hispanic Health Council’s after-school program at Maria Sanchez School. The book is about a cat who is determined to be treated as ordinary despite her appearance.