Radiance Kids Project

Childrens' Essays

From Radiance Spring 1998

Everyday Kids Who Hit The Target.
I first saw Alan Morgan on a TV commercial for Target. The ad showed him repeatedly going to his neighbor's door trying to sell her something, each time in a different uniform: band, Boy Scouts, and so on. The commercial ends with his final sales effort at the neighbor's door. There he is: big round face, wonderful smile and shining eyes under his mop of blond hair, and wearing yet another uniform. He knocks on the door, this time shouting, "Hey, open up. I know you're in there!" He cracked me up!
From Radiance Spring1998.
Compiled by Alice Ansfield

My Story
I am eight years old. I live in Oakland, California, with my mom, my dad, my brother, Jody, and my cat, Piewacket. There are a lot of big people in my family, including some of my favorite aunts (who aren't my real relatives, but they are special to me and I love them, so I call them my aunts). All the people who live with me in my house are big. We have a lot of fun together. We do lots of fun things as a family: swimming in a nearby lake, going to amusement parks, and spending special days at our schools.
from Radiance Spring1998.
By Jenna Sol
Art That Empowers
My name is Katy Alexander, and I am fourteen years old. I am fat. I have been fat all my life. It has only been recently, though, that I’ve been able to embrace my bigness.
From Radiance Spring 2000
By Katy Alexander