Cosmo’s Corner: Talent scout

Meow and hello! Cosmo, library cat and literary talent scout, here to tell you about a fun traveling exhibit currently on display at the Grand County Library. Earlier this year, PBS Kids Utah hosted their Writers & Illustrators contest, to inspire the talented young authors of Utah. The winning stories, along with selected illustrations, are now here at the Moab Library! 

I’d like to mention a few of my favorites. First, “How to Sneak Up on a Cheetah.” Kindergarten first prize winner Holden truly has an ear for dialogue. I was riveted by his main characters’ lively back and forth during their cheetah-napping attempt. 

Another outstanding entry is “Ferdinand the Greedy Flamingo.” This story follows a flamingo who loves stylish boots. Ferdinand is reduced to trading his own feathers to support his fashionable footwear habit. Ferdinand’s tragic but ultimately redemptive journey has lessons for us all. This lively tale took home the 5th grade first prize. 

I’d also like to give Cosmo’s Special Mention to “Save my lake, Save my life,” a 4th grade prize winner. It’s a post-apocalyptic glimpse into the future of a dry Great Salt Lake, as told by a harrowed bird narrator. Truly avant garde stuff! 

Other common themes include unicorns, the moon, helpful jellyfishes (a story written by a Moabite!), doing the right thing, and in the category of speculative fiction, several stories about heroic mice. Not a single story about library cats, but if you overlook this glaring omission, it is really a delightful exhibit. 

The imagination these kids possess is truly worth celebrating! I believe we can expect more exciting things from these young writers in the future. Come see this exhibit at the Grand County Public Library through Monday, November 6. Works are displayed opposite the circulation desk and in the library’s Large Meeting Room. Meow for now!