A library can be a magical place for an elementary school student, with opportunities to explore faraway lands and learn about new cultures.
Elijah Robertson, a Dallas fifth-grader, was so inspired by National School Library Month in April that he took it upon himself to write three adventure fiction novels for his school library at Clara Oliver Elementary School.
Saying he saw a lack of specific tales he wanted to read, he chose an e-book platform for self-publishing.
The three books are available not only for his peers at Clara Oliver but also on wattpad.com, under the name thewiseman777.
Elijah credits his younger sister, Josephine, for inspiring him to write the books and for introducing him to the wattpad.com platform.
“The next day, I looked at the library and I wondered if I could make a book on the website,” he says.
After he had written the books, he shared the news with his stepmother, Shequita Robertson.
“She was really proud,” Elijah says. “She was about to throw a party.”
Clara Oliver principal Cheryl Freeman says that Elijah is exhibiting the school’s mantra of “learn today to lead tomorrow.” So she was thrilled when he exhibited true leadership skills and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Elijah and his brother, Tory Robertson Jr., are part of the Dallas school district’s MLK oratory program, which is designed to recognize and encourage the writing and oratory skills of elementary students as well as teach about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“This is something we really push at our campus,” Freeman says, noting that Tory was a second-place finisher in the contest.
Robin Bryan, Elijah’s teacher for reading and language arts, was proud when she learned the news and immediately told the school librarian. Bryan has her own classroom library, which contributed to Elijah’s zest for reading and writing.
“He’s the student that hurries to finish his work so he can read at his desk whenever he gets the chance.”
Elijah Robertson
Age: 10
Favorite book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Writing style: Think The Hunger Games
Summer plans: Creating 15 more books to share with classmates in the fall