Is there anything more glorious than a Michigan summer? The glittering Great Lakes, the beaches of Belle Isle, the pine trees Up North. The smells of sunscreen and grilled hot dogs and fresh ink on the newly-bound pages of 826michigan’s latest publications. Yes, summer vacation is upon us, and we’re celebrating a year of fearlessly brainstorming, furiously writing, and thoughtfully revising with new student publications. For our students, it’s an ecstatic experience seeing their names, their images, their ideas typeset and bound by professional printers. In our last session of Erickson Writer’s Club, Dante leapt from his seat and sang all the way down the hall, “I’m going to be in a book!” We couldn’t provide this experience without our publisher, Thomson-Shore.
Thomson-Shore’s motto is, “Helping you put your best book forward,” and we can certainly attest to this. For years Thomson-Shore has honored our students by printing their work in high-quality publications. Each 826michigan title is the result of many hours of hard work, as our students write in their classrooms and in our workshops. Our staff and volunteers are with them in every stage of their literary journey, challenging them to do their best and cheering them on. It’s a privilege working alongside these young wordsmiths, and we’re grateful to Thomson-Shore for celebrating their work and amplifying their voices. We’re also grateful for the many other ways Thomson-Shore has immersed our students in the world of professional printing over the years, with events like Booktoberfest and field trips to their Dexter printing plant for a hands-on experience in the creation of books.
June 5th, we’re launching the latest title in our Young Authors Book Project series, In the Clouds Over Ypsilanti. Written by sixth graders at Estabrook Elementary, this book blends short stories set in Ypsilanti, where heroes of the masked and caped variety stop foes with ballet moves and real-life heroes like Alex Fuller encourage literacy with the Read to a Barber initiative at his Fuller Cut barbershop.
So this summer, stop in the Detroit Robot Factory or the Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair and pick up one of the beautiful new releases lining the shelves. Spread out your beach towel. Get a big bowl of Michigan cherries or the biggest watermelon you can find. Have a friend help you get sunscreen between your shoulders. Crack open an 826michigan publication, bound by the good people of Thomson-Shore, and enjoy the fearless work of our writers.