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

1. Dicey Questions

The following are all quotations that might provoke interesting conversation or discussion with your student or child. Ask them to explain the sentiments expressed by the character who says each quote. See if they agree or disagree. Or what wisdom they might have to add.

– “Little Bear isn’t a toy. He’s a real man. He lived. He’s not fun.”
(Omri, pp. 69-70)

– “Omri cook! Omri woman!” (Little Bear, p. 98)

– “Chiefs ought to know how to keep their temper.” (Omri, p. 167)

3. History Questions

c) Little Bear makes a big deal of not liking the toy teepee that Omri offers him. It’s a toy. It has no paintings on it. And most important, it’s not a longhouse. Find out and report on some of the other differences between the Iroquois and other Indians.

e) Alternately, you could make a list of every character that Omri brings to life, find out when each of them lived, and then place them all on a timeline. (Maybe illustrate with pictures, too.) The key is to remember even the obscure characters (like the knight who fought the Saracens).

More Who Said Questions

These questions were prepared along w/ the trivia questions that will/are being asked in school. I have found that children enjoy these kinds of questions because they re-immerse them in the narrative, they give them a sense of ownership of the story, and they encourage them to attend to details. The following questions have been left off the daily trivia file and the end of month quiz. But some students may benefit from or enjoy re-visiting or re-hearsing the story thru questions like these. Ask them,

Who said:

– “I not small. You big.” (p. 11)

– “Peace of Spirits be with you.” (p. 89)

– “It’s all made of real twigs and bark. It’s absolutely terrific!” (p. 67)

– “It’s sweat that keeps a man clean.” (p. 105)

– “Don’t you dare spit. There are no spittoons here.” (p. 148)