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Imaginations run wild: Lowell APP students transform Discovery Park into Candy Country
Lowell APP students let their imaginations run wild while learning about the writing process from Colin Meloy, lead singer of the Portland-based band the Decemberists and author of the children’s novel, "Wildwood."
Meloy visited the school on Oct. 4 with his wife, Carson Ellis, who illustrated the story of a girl who must save her brother in a land known as the Impassable Wilderness.
During the assembly, students listened attentively as Meloy described how he reimagined Portland’s Forest Park into the fictitious Wildwood setting and developed the story line from there.
After a brief Q & A, which included such questions as, “Is there a cow involved in any of your books?” (Answer: No), Meloy and Ellis drew a map of Discovery Park and encouraged the students to dream up new features for the wilderness they already knew well.
The familiar park soon assumed fantastical, and often culinary, characteristics. Pepperoni pizza trees dotted a landscape that included a gum drop village and a volcano that “spewed” orange juice. A Gummi Bear Waterfall cascaded into The Sticky River, which from there, emptied into Gooey Fish Bay.
Meanwhile, on the northern side of the park, a chocolate hill rose up from the shores of Sunshine Daisy’s Butter Melon Bay.
Students debated several potential names for their newly created land until ultimately agreeing on the moniker, Candy Country.
Before the assembly ended, Meloy gave aspiring authors in the audience one last piece of advice: “Write as much as you can! Every day!”
The event was made possible thanks to Suzanne Perry, Events and Public Relations Manager at Secret Garden Books and Jean Bryant, Lowell APP PTA Co-President.
Top photo: Colin Meloy, lead singer of the Portland-based band the Decemberists and author of the children’s novel, "Wildwood" answers questions from Lowell APP students.
Bottom photo: Map of the newly reimagined Discovery Park.
Story and photos by
Paige Hatcher/Seattle Public Schools