Poinciana Elementary School, 1203 N. Seacrest Blvd., has announced the release of a new book “Poetry at Poinciana,” written by former students.

The work is an attempt on word play created by fourth graders from Poinciana Elementary School almost two years ago. The project originally came together as an attempt to prepare the students for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

“It all started with some fourth graders, a volunteer parent Frank Ireland and Fran Ehrens, our SAIT teacher trying to help the children prepare for the FCAT,” said Peter Slack, the school’s principal. “It took a while, almost two years, to get the poems published.”

The SAIT is a supplemental academic instruction teacher and is used for children who are struggling to read.

Parent volunteer and author, Ireland, said a great deal can be learned about the promise of tomorrow from the poetry book and that after writing the book, all the children working in the group passed the FCAT exam.

Ireland had two children, Eryn, 12, and Frank Jr., 13, at Poinciana at the time the poetry book was written. He said he used to come in 9 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesdays to help the SAIT open doors to reading for the students preparing for the test.

“Because I am a local author with a couple of published books, I thought maybe this could be something the kids could show their peers,” Ireland said.

Ireland has published children’s and inspirational books, including “It’s Jake” and “My Son, a New Beginning.”

It wasn’t easy at first getting the children to write poetry, Ireland said. At first, the children would write only a couple of sentences. After a few weeks, he said they were writing four to five poems per sitting.

Companies such as Asset Foundry, Juvenile Transition Center, Pyramid Book Store, Shayla Perry Copywriter & Editor and Boynton Beach Police Athletic League were key contributors in making the book a reality.

The book is $9.20 for a paperback version and is full of off the wall poetry that Ireland said can either make you laugh or even cry.

All proceeds will be reinvested directly into the educational needs of Poinciana Elementary. To purchase a copy, call 888-519-5121, or visit http://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=61467.

The children took to poetry so well through writing the book, that Ireland’s daughter, Eryn Ireland, is publishing a book of her own, “The Magical World of Bubbles.”

“The writing really opened doors academically for all the kids involved,” Ireland said.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.