The Gift of Reading

The week before winter break, I sent an email to our staff members, inviting them to participate in the Gift of Reading:

What wonderful middle school book would you recommend to a student? Here’s your chance to share and to give a “gift” at no cost to you!

Choose a book from our library that you would recommend to students. Fill out the “from” portion of a gift tag. My parent volunteers and I will wrap the book, leaving the bar code exposed, so that students may choose a gift to take home and read during winter break.

The day before break, I invited students to check out a gift that they could not open until they got home. During our 20-minute morning recess, we checked out nearly 80 books. Feedback from the readers upon returning to school was heartwarming. A seventh-grade boy who reads mostly action novels received a book of poetry, Moon, Have You Met my Mother?, recommended by a kitchen staff member. He said he loved it! A sixth-grade girl who thrives on horror books told me that the classic book Black Beauty was wonderful. A techie boy who sought out a book from his favorite teacher shared that he was grateful he got to read National Book Award winner When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, a book he would not have chosen for himself but that truly touched him.

I have asked students to express their gratitude to the adults who chose to select their favorite library books. Adults have shared their encounters with children and are looking forward to their next opportunity to offer book suggestions. What a simple and affordable way to spread cheer during the holiday season.