My First Read Aloud Experience

Holding my first home-made print attempt for "How many snakes does it take to ride a bike?". Note: printing adjustments were made to make a more professional looking product for the AlitaVerse's store.

July 29th, 2025 a life long dream of mine had at last became a reality! I have been writing since I was six or seven years old with a dream to one day become a published author and sharing my inner fantasy with those around me. However, as it turns out, the world of publication is a lot more complicated than a few rounds of editing. As I await the release of my debut novel: "The Place Between Nowhere: Blank", I decided to finally fulfill another long term goal I had since fourth grade: to print and self publish my Children's book: "How Many Snakes Does It Take To Ride A Bike?". A light hearted story based off of one of my favorite childhood memories when I took my pet ball python for a bike ride around my neck.

I completed both the story and illustrations when I was nine years old and edited it with the help of my parents. The plan was to have it published before I turned ten, but my parents and I had no idea e how to layout the book, so that put us off for another year. When I was ten, my impatience for publication the arose once more but Covid-19 pandemic redirected my family's attention from "How Many Snakes Does It Take To Ride A Bike?", to trying to figure out how to keep my sister an I on keep on track; both academically and physically through the Pandemic. Despite this, I never stopped thinking about "How Many Snakes" and would revise the story in my head as I road my bike (without my ball python). Now finally, six years later, I've done it, and all I had to do was spend about three days laying out the manuscript and illustrations on "Scribus", an open-source layout software.

All I had to do at this point is share it with the community, and I would finally do my nine year old self justice. It ever so happened, that when I printed the first copy of "How Many Snakes", I was also interning for the 4j district's SEAL summer school program. I worked with a third grade class under a wonderful teacher who allowed me to read the children's book to the class during story time. While I read at the ABC patterned carpet surrounded by about thirteen kids my heart pounded anxiously. I had done Smart Reading before at SEAL reading alone books to ages eight and bellow but this time was tremendously different...I don't think there was ever a time in my life until than that I deeply wanted the validation of a bunch of third graders. However, as I read (perhaps a bit to quickly due to the nerves) the third graders seemed intrigued. In fact, I'd argue they genuinely enjoyed it, as that was probably the most focused I'd seem them all summer. When I finally finish the story, two or three kids came up to me and said "I want to write a book now!", and that had to be the best thing I've ever heard all summer! Even before I began to read, the kids seemed eager to hear from me, specially after I told them that I was nine when I wrote it. It was adorable to see their faces light up, a kind of realization had fallen upon them: I don't have to wait until I'm older to create something other people will want. I will never forget my first read alone experience, one that has left me with twice the motivation than I had before to pursue young authorship.