Doss Librarians Celebrate Readers with Two Events

By Alana Moehring Mallard

Doss Elementary librarians celebrated their student readers this month in two events: Birthday Book Club and Winter Readers.

“It’s not a present for you, it’s a present for the library,” librarian Celeste Pustka told students from third grade teacher Renee Francis’s class as they entered the library to select a new library book that would have their nameplate in the front, telling others they had donated the book as part of Birthday Book Club.

“We always donate a book and have for all our children,” said PTA mom and book fair chair Mandy Stokes who came to the library with the third graders, including her son Miles. “It’s so great for them to feel ownership of the library, one of their favorite places.” Her son Miles chose The Fire Keeper by J.C. Cervantes, a chapter book, instead of the graphic novel she expected him to choose.

Winter Readers, students who read from a generous list of choices over the holiday break, lined up for hot cocoa from Lang and Pustka as recognition for their reading, getting their cocoa orders – marshmallows? sprinkles? whipped cream? –then heading to recess. “I don’t want hot chocolate, just marshmallows,” said one reader, and Lang checked her marshmallows, did a few calculations about classes still to come, and dumped a handful of marshmallows into a cup.

“I’m so glad we continue to celebrate our Winter Readers,” said Lang. “It’s a community event, and it’s a parent-driven, family thing to get done.” In a special Winter Reader event, students in Denise Bishop and Marjorie Hunter’s class had hot cocoa on the library porch in front of the school.

Lang recognizes barriers exist for some students for Birthday Book Club and for Winter Readers, and she’s working to remove some of those barriers. “I want all kids to have an opportunity to participate,” she said.