First, we’re having a GREAT time with the One School-One Book program…. Getting “thank you” notes from parents already about how it’s “forcing” some family reading time that they seemed to have lost over the years.
— Paul Marinko - Principal at St. Paul's Lutheran School - Fort Wayne, IN
Since last spring, our entire school has excitedly embraced the One School, One Book Program. We will soon begin our spring selection: A Cricket in Times Square -- the third book we've adopted since the spring of 2010!

We are so thrilled with the positive impact this program has had on our students, families, and staff
— Laurie LaRue - First Grade Teacher at Edgewood School - Bristol, CT
I think the OSOB program is brilliant. My seven year-old attends Orleans Elementary in Massachusetts and they (we) are reading Masterpiece. Since the grades levels range from one to five at this school, finding a book to suit all is difficult. My daughter can follow the big picture somewhat but we have to reinforce what we’ve read because it’s a lot to take in for her.
— Glenn Krzeminski - Parent of student at Orleans Elementary - Orleans, MA
The One District, One Book program promoted by Read To Them...is a powerful way to systemically address and promote a culture of literacy throughout the entire school system.

My school actually adopted a hamster and even used it as “pet therapy” for many of the behaviorally challenged children in our school.
— Kenny Moles of West Virginia

Suggested Activities

Suggested Activities for The Mysterious Journey of Edward Tulane,by Kate DiCamillo (2006)
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2. Creative Writing
a) Students can be asked to write stories about what might happen to their own dolls/animals/prized objects.
b) Or they might be asked to write such a story – or episode – about any imagined object – from a molecule of oxygen or a water droplet to a baseball passed down thru the generations. Obviously – let students choose.
c) Ask students to pick one of the characters who (temporarily) adopt Edward – the fisherman and his wife; the hobo and his dog; the boy, Bryce – and think about their lives after they lose Edward. Ask them to try to imagine what animal or doll or sentimental object each of them adopt next – and write a story about one of them.

4. Edward Tulane Songs
- The Mysterious Journey of Edward Tulane is such a melancholy book – but w/ such emotional payoff and value. I’d encourage students to tap into this emotion by asking them to write short songs about various moments in Edward’s experience. Suggest to students that they confine themselves to one moment at a time. (As opposed to trying to narrate Edward’s whole experience.) Ask them to pick a moment (e.g. his time as a scarecrow; or what it felt like to sink to the bottom of the sea) and mine it for emotion. E.g. What was Edward feeling when he was stuck on a shelf for years? Perhaps even some of the songs could be put to harmonica and read or shared or even sung at some end of book assembly.