News
Summit Spanish teacher writes children's book
October 6, 2011
With her native Dominican Republic flag as a backdrop, Summit Spanish teacher Yngrid Thurston displays her newly published children’s new book, “The Chilling Adventures of a Piano Student.”
Summit Spanish teacher Yngrid Thurston’s new book, “The Chilling Adventures of a Piano Student,” has been published by Babel Books.
The Spanish-language children’s book chronicles the humorous adventures of a young girl, Maguie, and her mother as they search for a piano teacher. With free classes and at-home instruction, the teacher turns out to be too good to be true. The piano, named Fruncini, becomes their ally in surviving the unpredictable and unlikeable teacher.
Mrs. Thurston drew inspiration from her own childrens’ piano lessons and her Dominican Republic heritage.
“My two kids started taking piano lessons and one of the teachers made my son cry,” said Mrs. Thurston. “I got the idea from that. The piano teacher in the beginning of the book seems perfect. She even brings the piano with her in a truck and has a machine that carries it up seven flights of stairs. But one day, this perfect situation goes all wrong, and she transforms into this evil thing that wants to take over Maguie and her mom.”
While many authors have difficulty getting published, Mrs. Thurston sent the book to only one publisher, Babel Books, which asked to publish it immediately. Mrs. Thurston is now working on a teaching guide, so the book can be used in Spanish-language classes. She is also writing a new children’s book in English.
At The Summit since 2001, Mrs. Thurston teaches Middle School Spanish and heads the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She helped expand The Summit’s World Language Program into a 13-year course of study. Mrs. Thurston is a native of Santo Domingo. She met her husband, Hale Thurston, when he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic. Moving with him to the U.S., she received her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Ohio University and a master’s degree in Education from Xavier University. The Thurstons live in Anderson Township with their two children, Maverick and Haley.
“The Chilling Adventures of a Piano Student” is 46 pages long and written in Spanish. It is suitable for children ages 9-12. The book can be purchased online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. The list price is $12.99.
