AUBURN — Joshua Pelletier, an Auburn Middle School seventh-grader, is the winning author in the annual Auburn Book Project for his creation, “A Book of Poems.”

Pelletier will be honored Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Auburn Public Library, where he’ll present copies of his book to the library. Eight finalists in the project will also be recognized, according to Auburn gifted and talented consulting teacher Carolyn Dupee.

Pelletier wrote his book last year when a sixth-grader at the Park Avenue Elementary School. His work is the first poetry book to be chosen as a winner in the project’s history. Pelletier chose poetry, Dupee said, because he considers himself better at poetry than other kinds of writing, and because he thinks there is more freedom in writing poetry.

To illustrate his book Pelletier used collage techniques, getting his ideas for his drawings from movies and people, including his friends. Judges were impressed with the balance between art and poetry in his book, and commented on the sophisticated imagery and word choice in his poems, Dupee said.

In the Auburn Book Project, fifth- and sixth-graders are invited to write and illustrate an original book, a project designed to promote student writing. By creating books students not only improve their writing skills, but also learn and practice computer technology, art instruction and an awareness of the marketplace, as they prepare their writing and illustrations in accordance with publication guidelines.

For winning Pelletier will receive a savings bond and his name will join 11 previous winners of the award on a plaque.

Today’s book project event will be followed by a book sale and book signing at the Auburn Public Library from 1 to 3 p.m.

The public is welcome.

Here’s a sampling of poems by Josh Pelletier.

Open Eyes

For thy selfishness is thy burden.

For thy freedom is thy privilege.

For thy gaining of thy knowledge was in thy youth.

For thy wisdom of thy years is thy elder.

For thy path has been unyielding and uncertain,

but it’s unending doth be true.

For thy heart is thy soul

and thy soul is thy heart.

An Unwelcome Guest

It slithers under the door

Unwelcome

And untamed

Determined to do one thing

And one thing only.

Without any sort

Of warning . . .

It smothers

The house

With mystery . . .

It goes by the name of . . .

Fog.

Catcher

Behind the plate

I’m in control.

I’m ready and alive.

I think little, but do a lot.

Strike one . . .

Strike two . . .

Strike three!

“You’re Out!”

I’m a wall.

Ready and alive,

I’m in control.