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by Lit Meets Rec (Author)
Welcome to Once Upon a Memphis Story, a special anthology created by the talented youth participants of the Memphis Parks Literacy Meets Recreation program. Within these pages, you will discover imagination, creativity, laughter, inspiration, and the powerful voices of young writers who dared to share their stories with us.
This collection represents more than just books and poems-it represents confidence, growth, and the belief that every child has a story worth telling. Through Literacy Meets Recreation, youth participants explore reading, writing, illustration, and storytelling in fun and engaging ways that encourage them to fall in love with reading and literacy.
Our mission is to foster a more positive attitude toward reading in our recreational settings, which will follow them into their academic settings. This positive attitude improves grades and standardized test scores.
From heartfelt poems to imaginative adventures, each piece reflects the spirit of Memphis, the creativity of our young people, and the importance of literacy in shaping future leaders. These young authors remind us that stories can connect communities, inspire hope, and preserve the unique voices of a generation.
We are incredibly proud of every student featured in this anthology and grateful to the literacy outreach team, Memphis Parks staff, families, mentors, community partners, and supporters who continue to invest in youth literacy and enrichment opportunities through Memphis Parks. This program would not be possible without the generosity of organizations like International Paper and Literacy Mid-South.
As you read Once Upon a Memphis Story, we hope you are inspired to celebrate the beauty of storytelling and the limitless potential of our youth.
