China Grove Elementary School celebrated School Library Month with school-wide activities during April.
Local author Dicy McCullough spent a day in the media center meeting with each grade level. She shared her background as a former teacher, her books, the writing process and tips for being a good writer. Louie the dog from the stories even showed up as a large puppet to meet the younger students.
Although her books are titled “Tired of My Bath,” “Tired of School” and “Tired of Being Different,” no one was tired of the chance to meet a real author and ask questions in person. McCullough’s visit provided a link to the real-world application of writing to China Grove students.
During the second annual Book Swap, all pre-school through fifth grade students chose a free book to take home from more than 1,000 new and used picture, information and chapter books. Each teacher also received 10-30 books to expand their classroom library. Even in this digital age, children still get excited about choosing a book of their own to read and share with their family.
Comfort Publishing, a Concord company, contributed several new books to be given away. This was especially exciting since Reed Karriker spoke to the fourth- and fifth-graders earlier in the school year about his work in the company as a graphic designer.
Students also enjoyed a visit “The Beach” in the media center. During the winter months, the Rowan-Salisbury Schools maintenance department built a reading area using free remnants from Piedmont Carpet. Grove Supply of China Grove donated time and labor to install carpeting. Third-grade students voted on the name for the area because of the carpet colors on the walls and floor, and the ocean-themed mural on the wall. The new reading area provides a place for students to get comfortable and curl up with a good book during the school day.
Although April is designated as School Library Month, China Grove Elementary School promotes the library media center each month. School libraries seek to create lovers of reading and lifelong readers who are prepared with skills for the 21st century. Reaching each child with a book, whether print or digital, is the best place to start.