Rebecca Caudill Book Club and Student Run Clubs

New this fall:  student-run clubs in the library for grades 4 and up! The library has been hosting Manga/Animé club, Dance Club, Newspaper Club and the Rebecca Caudill book club Thursdays after school.  Thanks to all the children for their lively, focused participation and for their admirable initiative!

The Rebecca Caudill Book Club replaces our former "Battle of the Books" (BOB) participation.  I noticed BOB had been declining for older children because it requires a year-long commitment, and there are many other enticing activities in the spring such as the school musical, sports and Girls on the Run.  Additionally, our kids seemed to enjoy the reading more than the competing.  So this year we tried something new via The Rebecca Caudill Book Club, which encompasses a broader age range in one reading club (grades 4-8 in one club).  The program invites students to read as many books as possible from a given list and the group is authorized to come to a consensus and submit a vote for the winner of an Illinois Children's Choice Award (also known as the Caudill Young Readers' Book Award).  The winner our group chose this year was The Apothecary by Maile Meloy, and the reason given unanimously:  "magic, magic, magic!"  This club will be rejoining this spring for an awards celebration (a la the Oscars for bookworms) as we wait with bated breath to see if our pick wins on the state level!  (I like that a book wins or loses, instead of people....all readers are winners.) We also took a special after school  "field trip" of sorts to my private library, enjoying cocoa and cupcakes as we gathered as booklovers to celebrate and discuss the dozens of books read in a short span.  I'm very, very proud of this special group of dedicated readers, and looking forward to doing it again next year...the more, the merrier! Meanwhile, Rebecca Caudill Award contenders are now available for ALL our super Stone Bookworms, please come, check them out and decide on YOUR favorite!