A remarkable find: a collection of short — very short — stories written by fifth graders at various schools in Buffalo, New York, and published in book form in 1931.
Here’s the introduction:
Dear Fifth Graders:
How do you do! I am the little book that you have made. I have many little stories. They are very interesting. I hope you will enjoy them. They may not be exactly like the works of the great authors, but they are your thoughts and word pictures and I am sure you will love them. Take good care of me and I will bring you many happy hours.
February 18, 1931
School No. 2
Go to this site for pictures and the full text of the book.
Notes: “To the boys of the fifth grade: Keep this book for some future day, and when you look it over you will remember that in the Handwork Class of 1919 you learned to measure inches, quarters and eighths accurately, and that even small spaces counted. Accuracy in detail is essential to success in anything. E.C. Hartwell, superintendent of schools.”–T.p. verso.
Hah!