At the Campus School, lunchtime and literature go hand-in-hand. Rather than amass in one cafeteria, students stay in their classrooms for read-alouds– a tradition that spans generations at Gill Hall.
The transition to lunch sounds of metal lockers; lunchbox zippers; children on Milk Duty giggling in the halls. Then there is hush. The Campus School falls quiet. Teachers and college students take hold of each room, settling kids into worlds fictive or realistic. First graders might study the picture books of a local author while sixth graders discuss race relations in To Kill a Mockingbird. No matter their age, students tune in– gasping and laughing in reaction to the texts.
Much research covers the benefits of reading aloud to children of all ages, even teenagers; Amy Joyce writes in The Washington Post, “reading with kids who already know how to read helps them… understand the world around them and be empathetic citizens.”
To that end, we share some of the “great reads” enjoyed by fifth and sixth graders at SCCS. When Lunch Aides close the covers of these books, they are often met with a collective groan: their students want to know what happens next.
Stella By Starlight by Sharon Draper: “Stella lives in the segregated South—in Bumblebee, North Carolina, to be exact about it. Some stores she can go into. Some stores she can’t. Some folks are right pleasant. Others are a lot less so. To Stella, it sort of evens out, and heck, the Klan hasn’t bothered them for years. But one late night, later than she should ever be up, much less wandering around outside, Stella and her little brother see something they’re never supposed to see, something that is the first flicker of change to come, unwelcome change by any stretch of the imagination. As Stella’s community—her world—is upended, she decides to fight fire with fire. And she learns that ashes don’t necessarily signify an end.” — Description courtesy of Simon & Schuster
The Wonderling written and illustrated by local author Mira Bartok: “In this extraordinary debut novel with its deft nod to Dickensian heroes and rogues, Mira Bartók tells the story of Arthur, a shy, fox-like foundling with only one ear and a desperate desire to belong, as he seeks his destiny.” — Description courtesy of Penguin Random House
Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate: “Kek comes from Africa where he lived with his mother, father, and brother. But only he and his mother have survived. Now she’s missing, and Kek has been sent to a new home. In America, he sees snow for the first time, and feels its sting. He wonders if the people in this new place will be like the winter—cold and unkind. But slowly he makes friends: a girl in foster care, an old woman with a rundown farm, and a sweet, sad cow that reminds Kek of home. As he waits for word of his mother’s fate, Kek weathers the tough Minnesota winter by finding warmth in his new friendships, strength in his memories, and belief in his new country.” –Description courtesy of Macmillan Publishing.
The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz: “1242. On a dark night, travelers from across France cross paths at an inn and begin to tell stories of three children. Their adventures take them on a chase through France: they are taken captive by knights, sit alongside a king, and save the land from a farting dragon. On the run to escape prejudice and persecution and save precious and holy texts from being burned, their quest drives them forward to a final showdown at Mont Saint-Michel, where all will come to question if these children can perform the miracles of saints.Join William, an oblate on a mission from his monastery; Jacob, a Jewish boy who has fled his burning village; and Jeanne, a peasant girl who hides her prophetic visions. They are accompanied by Jeanne’s loyal greyhound, Gwenforte . . . recently brought back from the dead. Told in multiple voices, in a style reminiscent of The Canterbury Tales, our narrator collects their stories and the saga of these three unlikely allies begins to come together.” –Description courtesy of Penguin Random House
At the Same Moment, Around the World by Clotilde Perrin, an all-school read-aloud text: “Discover Benedict drinking hot chocolate in Paris, France; Mitko chasing the school bus in Sofia, Bulgaria; and Khanh having a little nap in Hanoi, Vietnam! Clotilde Perrin takes readers eastward from the Greenwich meridian, from day to night, with each page portraying one of (the original) 24 time zones. Strong back matter empowers readers to learn about the history of timekeeping and time zones, and to explore where each of the characters lives on the world map. A distinctive educational tool, this picture book’s warm, unique illustrations also make it a joy to read aloud and admire.” –Description courtesy of Chronicle Books
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