First-Grader Dana Pasquarosa Nabs Statewide Competition
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Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 6/6/2006
When seven-year-old Dana Pasquarosa drew an image of a girl sliding down a rainbow over a pot of gold, she had no idea that she would end up with her own pot of gold—well, sort of.
The first grader at Fitzgerald Elementary School in Waltham, MA, beat more than 100 people in a statewide competition to promote reading sponsored by the Massachusetts School Library Media Association. Her illustration is being made into bookmarks, which will be distributed to the local community.
Pasquarosa’s inspiration? The school library and media specialist Kathleen Finnerty, who entered her students in the contest because April was school library month.
Waltham’s new celebrity received a $25 certificate to purchase books for her own collection, and the school library received $50 to purchase new books.
What was your reaction when you found out you won the contest?
Well, at first I freaked out a little bit, and then I got very, very excited! My whole family is talking about it.What inspired you to create the image for your bookmark?
I love all the books in the school library. That’s what made me want to do it.
Is the school library important to you?
It’s important to me because it’s very, very fun. I like when my library teacher reads us a story, and then we get to write about the story we heard.
Is there a particular book that got you hooked on reading?
When I was a little girl, my grandfather read me a book about Arthur and D. W. [the Arthur adventure series (Little, Brown) by Marc Brown]—one where D. W. didn’t like spinach. I loved that book so much I began to read it over and over again.
What books will you buy for your home collection with the $25 award you received?
I would like to buy some second-grade books to read over the summer. I have a lot of first-grade books at home, and I like to play school with them. Now I need to buy some books that will challenge me and help me get ready for second grade!
What would you like to be when you grow up?
Well, I have been working on a book for a while now. I am writing and drawing pictures. So someday I hope to be an author and an illustrator.
