In my Grade 5 visit to the school library, we were not to leave without a book — and I couldn’t find one.
At two minutes to classroom-return-time, the librarian tilted her head, sized me up, and said, “This one.” I left with Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, and there my love of reading — and, incidentally, horses — began.
We are not always so fortunate as to get handed the perfect book, let alone a curated list. That’s the beauty of Reading Link Challenge, a library program for students in Grades 4 and 5 organized by the Fraser Valley Regional Library. The goal is to encourage reading through a fun competition between classmates and, ultimately, between schools. In my role as temporary Children’s Services librarian at the Nelson Public Library, I got to be part of the fun.
It works like this: participating schools — this year South Nelson, Rosemont, St. Joseph, Brent Kennedy, Redfish, Winlaw, and W.E. Graham — receive sets of six novels in the fall to read and discuss. Big thanks to the Nelson and District Credit Union, whose grant purchased the book sets. The books, chosen to spark interest, offered a range of topics and reading levels.
Although there was nary a horse book among them, I was captivated by the characters in these fabulous books, including Chance the dog, Res the Mars Rover, Mortimer the sleuthing space rat, Lina and Doon as they try to save their city-of-the-future, Kate and Tom as conductors on a magical train, and of course Omar, the accidental trouble magnet.
In March I visited each school as quizmaster, with teams answering questions for high stakes: the opportunity to represent their school at the finals. That day came on Tuesday, May 6 in the library of Trafalgar Middle School, with thanks to oh-so-organized librarian Karen Walgren for hosting. It was serious fun, and the kids were enthusiastic and holy cow smart!
We began with some inspirational words from Principal Tim Mushumanski. The kids were stoked, having brushed up on the details of each book and chosen cool team names. We quickly got down to business.
After two rounds of questions, we had a tie between past champs South Nelson (The Spicy Cobra Chickens) and first-timers St. Joseph (The Break-Dancing Books). Three additional questions broke the tie: The St. Joseph School team, coached by teacher Jenifer Graham, will have their name proudly displayed on the Reading Link Challenge plaque!
I asked the winning team about their experience. Their team strategy, they told me, was to become experts in at least two of the books — although team-member Isabella read all six. “I love to read, but I also loved the challenge,” she said.
Oleksandr said that “Planet Omar was my favourite,” and like anyone who finds a great new author, he’d like to read more. That book was tops for Zoë, too. Joana loves reading, but especially learning. “The Silver Arrow was my favourite,” she told me.
Oleksii loved Dogtown best, and had his own winning strategy. “I wrote S.O.S. — Save our Souls — on our whiteboard,” he said, smiling. “I also prayed.”
Oleksii, who came from Ukraine with his family, including brother and teammate Oleksandr, said he felt proud to represent his culture.
Zoë summed it up for everyone: “The best thing about Reading Link Challenge was the teamwork. It made it more fun. But winning was a big accomplishment.”
All the kids who participated in Reading Link Challenge are right to be proud! But the truth is, every reader is a winner.
“Reading makes you a great human being,” said Mr. Mushumanski told the kids. “It’s behind everything you do.”
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