Gahanna youth will learn about the morals of stories during a free fable-writing workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, at the Gahanna branch library, 310 Granville St.

Students in fourth through sixth grades will learn about Aesop's and James Thurber's fables and then will write a story that ends with a moral.

Freelance writers Kathy Matthews and Valerie Cumming will introduce students to fables and teach them what makes a fable.The youth then will be asked to put their imaginations to work on their own compositions.

To register for the free workshop, call the Gahanna library at (614) 645-2275.

Megumi Robinson, representing Geben Communication, said the workshops have been around since 2008. They initially came about as a way to teach students about James Thurber's two books of fables.

The program also stemmed from excitement of the Thurber House's ghostwriting workshops held in the fall and the desire to work more with the Columbus Metropolitan Library system, Robinson said.

The fable-writing workshops are a collaboration of Thurber House, Worthington libraries, Upper Arlington libraries, Dublin libraries and the CML.

After the writing workshops at library branches in Dublin, Upper Arlington and Gahanna, participants are invited to a celebration from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 11, at Thurber Center, 91 Jefferson Ave., for arts and crafts, open-microphone sessions and an opportunity to share the fables.

All students will receive a booklet of their library’s fables.

JPMorgan Chase Foundation, PNC and State Auto Insurance Cos. support the fable-writing workshop program.