Kindergartners in Patricia Schroeder and Jessica Eitingon’s class at the Lynbrook Kindergarten Center received a special visit from Girl Scout Ambassador Emma Lenz, a junior from Lynbrook High School on Jan. 25. Emma wrote, illustrated and published the children’s book “Memories of Lynbrook” and started sharing her book with kindergarten students at the school that she once attended.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA. As part of her Gold Award project to receive this prestigious honor, Emma created the book and was required 12-20 hours of in-person presentation time. “Memories of Lynbrook,” which was printed by IngramSpark, is now available online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com and took Emma about a year and a half to complete. The book focuses on a young girl, Georgie, who looks through her Grandma Pearsall’s scrapbook of Lynbrook memories. Georgie’s grandmother shares true facts about the town, including the history of Lynbrook schools, important figures, monuments and more. 

Emma conducted historical research online and at the Lynbrook Public Library to learn more about her town and incorporate her findings into her story. She also worked with the Historical Society of East Rockaway and Lynbrook.

“My strengths are art and history and with this book, I’m combining both of them together,” Emma said. “I wanted to do a project that would impact my community in a positive way.”  

The kindergartners listened intently as Emma read her children’s book. Claire Lenz, Emma’s grandmother and a former educator herself, beamed with pride as she watched her granddaughter read to the class. 

“I’m very proud of Emma,” she said. “She is a delight, very talented and she was so relaxed. I thought she did beautifully with the children.” 

After the reading, the students had the opportunity to ask Emma questions. She spoke about the writing process, when the book was finally completed and growing up in Lynbrook herself.

“I hope that the students learned more about the history of Lynbrook and learned that our community has so much to offer,” she said.

After the reading, each student received a worksheet and illustrated their own favorite memory of Lynbrook. Emma will visit each kindergarten class in the next few weeks to share her children’s book. She will also generously be giving a copy of the book to each class in the Lynbrook Kindergarten Center.

Great job, Emma!