Welcome to another installment in our on-going series of Check It Out blog posts on OPS student authors. In this post we focus on a group of fourth grade OPS Authors who recently co-wrote a short story, Uninvited Guests. The short story, inspired by an illustration from The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg, was written in library class by Caryn, Leylani, Bryce and Joey. Uninvited Guests is an eerie tale with an unexpected twist, so give it a read and then check out our interview with two of the authors!
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Uninvited Guests
By: Caryn, Leylani, Bryce, and Joey ![]()
I shot straight up in my bed. I thought I heard something, but everything was silent. Was it just a figment of my imagination? I decided to go downstairs to the basement to investigate, but I found nothing. I looked up and gasped, shocked. The window was open, and I remember closing it before I went to bed! Had someone gone into my basement? If someone or something did, for what reason? Why didn’t they take the door? I didn’t know what to do, so I closed the window and went back to bed. That was a huge mistake.
I was sleeping soundly for a while. It was all calm and peaceful. Until they came again. This time, it was scary, but I didn’t hear a bang. I heard a crash. Then, I went downstairs and I noticed one of my skates was missing! Had a creature or creatures taken it? Were they thieves? I was so confused. And why only one of my skates? I decided that this time I wouldn’t go to bed in case they were planning to steal again. Another mistake… I was so sleepy that I fell asleep again. Thankfully, nobody took anything from the basement. Why did I hear footsteps? Was it my ears tricking me, or was it the creatures. Were they coming for something else, or even worse, me? My eyes grew wide. I was sure that the doorknob had just moved.. I was filled with fright, and the last thing I heard was a cackle, so shrill and evil that I couldn’t move. Then, it all went black. I was so confused so I looked around. I was now locked up in a tiny cage with only a lumpy bed, a toilet, and a gloomy window. I walked to the bed. What had I done to get myself into this predicament? I thought back. I went to sleep and then heard a noise. I checked out the basement, but I saw nothing so I decided to go back to sleep. Then, I heard a crashing noise. I went downstairs to check, and one of my skates was missing. I wanted to stay downstairs to see if anything would get stolen again, and then I woke up here. I didn’t remember anything that happened that would make anyone angry or upset! What had I done?? It was almost morning and I was wondering how I would ever get out of this prison, when I finally saw them. The creatures were so horrific that the very sight of them burned my eyes. I don’t know how to describe that frightening sight. They were so small that I knew immediately that they had some kind of magic, because it would be impossible for them to be able to get in and out of my basement. They grinned at me. “Who- What are you?!?” I asked them. “Us?” it said, “We are shapeshifters. We can transform into anything and anyone. We can even transform into you.” “What do you want with me??” I shouted at them boldly. “Well, we want your power.” They said. “My power??” I said, confused. Who did they think I was, the President or something? I am the principal of an elementary school, but then I realized what had happened. These creatures thought I was powerful because all the teachers and students listen to me. I decided to play along and let them see how wrong they were. “Ohhhh.. Yes, my power.” I said, but I had one more question, “Why did you steal my skate?” “We stole your skate because it will be proof that we are you. We were going to take the other one, but we heard you coming and quickly shapeshifted into some cans of paint, a stack of paper, and an old radio.” I didn't say anything else. One of the creatures shapeshifted into me. I was amazed at the resemblance. I couldn’t tell the difference! They told me to tell the guy who shapeshifted into me what to do. I told him to go to the school because it was Tuesday morning. I also told him that he had to read a certain story to a certain library class… ![]() This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors Interview:
Your short story, Uninvited Guests, was inspired by an illustration from the Chris Van Allsburg book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. What was it like writing a story using details from a picture?
Leylani: I enjoyed writing this story with my classmates. We used a lot of details and I think we all really used our imaginations! Caryn: It was very interesting trying to spot details in the picture. I especially liked trying to figure out how to turn the details that we found into a sentence! Do you think illustrations are good story starters? Leylani: I think illustrations are very good starters as long as they have a lot of detail to it for you to get an idea of what you should write. Illustrations are also used in books. They help you get an idea of the characters! Caryn: I also think illustrations are great story starters as long as, like Leylani said, they have a lot of detail. Making a story off of a picture is sort of like the base of the building is already built for you, and you have to finish it. Writing stories as a group is a lot different than writing a story by yourself. How would you describe that experience? Leylani: In my opinion I enjoyed writing a story as a group...I do not have a favorite because I like both equally! Caryn: I would describe working with my group great, because, personally, I like working with other people more than just working with myself. If I was having trouble thinking of what to write, I could always just ask them for help! Do you enjoy writing stories just for fun? Leylani: Sometimes I do enjoy writing stories for fun. Caryn: I’m not really sure because I’ve never actually written a story just for fun, always just for classwork. What authors do you think inspire your writing? Leylani: No Authors. But I do like comic books and fictional stories! Caryn: I don’t really have any authors that inspire my writing. I basically just like to think of my own ideas from scratch.
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Are you a maker? If you love everything from origami to making your own arcade games with paper, you will want to check out the virtual events taking place at the NJ Makers Day website Friday, March 19th, and Saturday, March 20th. You'll be able to enjoy talks from inspiring innovators like mathematician, author and STEAM advocate Joylette Hylick and workshops on everything from building bee abodes to learning game design. Unable to make the live events on both days? No worries, all of the events will be available on-demand for 30 days. So what are you waiting for? MAKE it happen!
Are you craving a good book? Well you are in luck because our OPS Book eFair kicks off this week! The fair will be open for orders from today, March 8th until next Monday, March 15th, so you can support our school while discovering all of your favorite characters, series, and collections. Orders are delivered right to your doorstep and you can take advantage of FREE shipping on book-only purchases over $25. So take a moment, check out the book fair flyer, and visit the eFair website.
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If You Come To Earth, from two-time Caldecott Medal winning author/illustrator Sophie Blackall, is the fifth and final book up for consideration in our OPS Picture Book Awards. Inspired by the children Sophie has met all over the world during her travels in support of UNICEF and Save the Children, If You Come To Earth is an alien's guide to Earth as seen from the eyes of a child. With lush illustrations and whimsical text, Ms. Blackall creates an amusing and heartfelt story that reminds the reader of the importance of caring for the earth and it inhabitants. In the video below, Sophie describes the various experiences that inspired this book.
If You Come To Earth is one of the five picture books our OPS students will be reading, analyzing, and considering for three OPS Picture Book Awards: Best Message, Best Illustrations, and Best Overall Picture Book. Voting will take place by homeroom class on Wednesday, March 3rd, and the winning book(s) will be announced on Friday, March 5th. To check out a copy from the OPS Library visit Destiny Discover or check out a copy from the Oradell Public Library's BCCLS system.
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