Bryan Patrick, a four-year-old from New Bern, North Carolina, has recently completed his first book and set his sights on becoming the youngest author in history. His journey to becoming an author is nothing short of miraculous and seems like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Bryan’s parents, Eleanor and Ervin Patrick, who are both educators, noticed their son’s unique fascination with letters at a very young age. Bryan was able to spell words like “axolotl,” showcasing a remarkable talent for language. As he grew older, his love for letters extended into all aspects of his life, from family trips to the Alphabet Museum to dressing up as a superhero of his favorite letter ‘B.’
With the help of his parents, Bryan created an alphabet garden in their backyard where each letter corresponds to a specific plant. Eleanor mentioned that this journey was not planned but was inspired by Bryan’s ideas. Despite being in preschool, Bryan has already mastered skills that are typically taught to older children such as reading fluently and knowing letter sounds. He even learned how to multiply and divide!
The challenge for Brian’s parents now is determining an appropriate grade level for him due to his advanced abilities. They emphasize that Brian’s achievements have largely been a result of his self-teaching and natural curiosity. Each night, Brian would spend hours typing out the alphabet on the computer before moving on to sentences and eventually completing an entire book in just one month!
To claim the title of the world’s youngest author, Bryan must sell 1000 copies of his book. His family is hosting a book launch party in New Bern to support his goal. While another four-year-old currently holds the title, with the community’s support, Bryan could become the new record holder!