Students Express Their Wishes for the World

There's been lots of buzz in the literary world about the young age of up-and-coming author Téa Obreht, author of The Tiger's Wife (she's 25). But San Leandro now has nine published authors — and artists — under the age of 12.

The writing and art of nine students from appear in the 2010 Kids for Peace publication Wish Big: Children's Wishes for the World.

Kids for Peace is a southern California nonprofit whose mission is to "cultivate every child’s innate ability to foster peace through cross-cultural experiences and hands-on arts, service and environmental projects."

For the book, students were asked to write and illustrate one wish for the world. The entries published in the book were selected from students between the ages of 3 and 11 from all over the globe.

Madison Principal Gerhard Grotke said the school submitted more than 100 entries for consideration. Nine of Madison's entries were selected for the published book. 

"The topics published by the Mustangs reflect the district work on safety, bully-free schools, nutrition, fairness, family and helping students with special needs," Grotke said in a news release, adding that he was very proud of the students.

"This reflects years of integrating and applying our rigorous curriculum to supporting and serving the world.”   

Students whose entries were chosen received a copy of the book and a Kids for Peace T-shirt. This was the second book project by Kids for Peace.