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

Assembly Ideas

1. Read the First Chapter – This is the standard, default, easiest, most natural assembly you can do. It models the nature of the program, and introduces students to the premise of the book. Experienced schools have more fun w/ more original, creative assemblies. But The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe lends itself very well to this default choice. C.S. Lewis’ prose goes down easy – and Lucy makes it thru the wardrobe into Narnia in the very first chapter. The magic begins… [Be sure to choose a skilled reader. Often schools will choose a guest reader - some local celebrity or admired figure for this purpose.]

4. The Wisdom of C.S. Lewis – Cast someone to play the Professor or even C.S. Lewis. Have him sit (or stand) on stage and discourse on the wisdom in the book. It will be a slow, patient, mysterious, but engaging monologue. He will say some of the strange but wise things from the book. E.g. Peter asks, “If things are real, they’re there all the time” – to which the Professor responds, “Are they?” It will also be curious/funny if the Professor emphasizes (as C.S. Lewis does), that “You should never lock yourself in a wardrobe.” This will seem like curious advice – and therefore funny – until students actually find out what it’s about. But it ought to make them curious about that wardrobe. Weave in softer observations, like C.S. Lewis’ description of what happens when you’re very sad and have had a good long cry: “eventually there comes a kind of stillness.” An unusual assembly, but one that could be memorable and engaging – and worth returning to again when the book is finished. [Script available upon request.]