When middle school students Lucas Pfeiffer and Kayleigh Frederick came back to visit their past elementary school, they returned as published author and illustrator.

Eastern Municipal Water District and Rancho California Water District partnered on "Write Off," a pilot writing project for middle school students, who were asked to write a story about outdoor water conservation geared toward grades K-2 and include illustrations.

The program, offered to Hemet and Temecula students, was funded by a grant from Metropolitan Water District and received more than 180 entries.

The winner, "Gobi’s Adventure," written by Lucas, is a story about a water drop who teaches an evil kid how to conserve water.

Kayleigh was invited to illustrate the story, which went through design and was published.

On June 9, the Margarita Middle School students unveiled their book to Judy Brooks and Patty Koch’s kindergarten classes and Cindy Peterson-Thomas’ fourth/fifth grade class at Rancho Elementary.

Lucas and Kayleigh have siblings at the elementary school.

Koch asked Lucas about his writing process. He said, "As you start writing, it becomes easier and easier, because you can make it up as you go along."

It took him two days to write, which he claimed to do at the last minute.

"You did an awesome job," Koch said. She then asked her students, "What did it teach us about water?"

Many students exclaimed that it wasn’t good to waste it.

Peterson-Thomas stated to her class, "This Advertisement
is near and dear to our heart. It’s cool to see Rancho kids were able to illustrate and write a book."

Kayleigh was asked how long it took her to do the illustrations. She said, "I started during spring break, but I kept messing up. I eventually finished it at the last minute too."

Altogether it must have taken her a couple hours, she added.

Using colored markers, Kayleigh’s favorite drawing was the fish on the last page, because she has one just like it at home that inspired her. From personal experience, many artists draw their ideas.

An aspiring author, Kayleigh also had sent in a story with illustrations, but her book was too indepth.

Program organizer and EMWD Education Specialist Malea Ortloff told Peterson-Thomas’ class, "Kayleigh’s was good, but we needed it to be more compact."

"Most of the time authors don’t illustrate their own books," added teacher Donna Scott.

Both students were in shock when they heard they would be collaborating on "Gobi’s Adventure" and it was to be published. They’ve also become famous among their peers, with classmates asking for their autographs.

EMWD and RCWD partnered to bring cross-curriculum, cross-age learning and teaching techniques to schools within their service areas.

"Gobi’s Adventure" will be distributed to elementary schools in the district’s service areas in September.

A flannel board presentation will also be available to teachers starting in the next school year.