Preston Publishers

Preston Publishers is a PTA sponsored student author program that helps young authors publish their very own creative works. Something special happens when kids receive their manuscripts back in book form. Pride in ownership of something they’ve solely created is undeniable!

Participating in a writing program can teach your child many essential skills like:

Project Management – When do I start? When do I finish? How do I break up the rest of the jobs in between?
Creative Thinking – What do I write about?
Critical Thinking – How do I best present my ideas in words? What part will pictures play in moving my story forward?
Exploration and Research – What all can I include in my book?

As a parent, you can see your child’s progression in the books they create each year. You will see them grow as writers, as critical thinkers, and as project managers. All this while still exploring their creativity!

How does this program work?
New process for 2025-2026

Preston is now partnering with an online publishing company called StoryJumper
Instead of pre-purchasing a paper kit, students will use the StoryJumper website to create and submit their books.
Books can be created physically & scanned or created digitally.
Parents can sign their students up to participate in Preston Publishers through the link on the Open Forms page starting Dec 3, 2025.
A detailed instructions sheet will be emailed to all participants.
Order the number of copies you would like to have. All of the Preston Publishers orders will be sent to the school together.
A PTA hosted Authors’ Reception to honor our student writers will be held on April 7, 2026 at 5:30pm. Authors will be celebrated for their accomplishment and will get to sign and take their published books home that evening.

How do I volunteer?

Login to your Preston PTA account and update your PTA Volunteer Opportunities for the current school year to indicate your willingness to help with Student Book Publishing (Preston Publishers). We will reach out to you to help us with:

Designing and creating the Author's Bulletin Board at Preston
Organizing the Authors’ Reception

Frequently Asked Questions
New answers for 2025-2026

Will a copy of my child's book get added to the Preston library?

The 89th legislative session saw Senate Bill 13 (SB13) added to Texas law. SB13 affects the way library materials are added to the campus collection. The process is just as rigorous as before, but includes added steps that will delay the addition of any Preston Publishers books until the beginning of the following school year. Because of this, new books will not be added to the Preston library.

Do I get a copy of my child's book to keep?

Yes, any copies you purchase are yours to keep at home or give away as gifts.

How can my child share their book?

StoryJumper includes a feature share books online. We are currently looking into the details and will share more later in the year.

What grade levels can participate?

From Kindergarteners to 6^th graders, all kids have ideas to communicate, and each one of them can participate. Starting a practice of writing a book a year is a tradition that pays off richly in the long run.

What if my child doesn't want to write fiction?

That’s not a problem at all! All forms of fiction and non-fiction are acceptable. Your child can write a book of poems, a comic strip, or a collection of photos from a favorite holiday destination. They can create a recipe book with Nana’s favorite recipes or write about themselves. The possibilities are as wide as their imaginations.

Is this a fundraiser?

No, the PTA does not receive any money from the publishers program. Coordinating Preston Publishers is a service we offer to families to help foster a love of creating and reading in students.