Book by first-graders wins national contest

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Darlene Robertson, like so many other teachers, faced the enormous task of continuing her class work while dealing with her fragile first-graders at H. Byron Masterson Elementary School in Kennett, Mo. So she took the time to remind her students that they were safe and that the familiar things in their lives -- sunrise, homework and the love of their parents -- had not changed.

When Scholastic Books announced its Kids Are Authors contest, it was Robertson's husband who suggested that her students write a book about Sept. 12 -- the day after the attacks.

The result is "September 12th ... We Knew Everything Would Be All Right," a collection of the first-graders' thoughts and recollections about the events of last September.

The children also illustrated their writing. And their effort won the contest.

Scholastic Books is publishing the first-graders' book and distributing it nationwide.

Years from now, those first-graders of last year will realize they have created their own special place in the history of an event was so tragic on so many levels.

Special thanks goes to Robertson, a teacher who went well beyond the call of duty, and to her husband as well.