In the spirit of the New Year, let’s reflect on the great work done by Bolivar Elementary School during their first One School, One Book initiative, launched back in October 2017.
The school, located in Chittenango, New York, read The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling.
Mr. Martin reading ‘The Chocolate Touch’ at Darlene’s Kitchen.
A play on the classic tale of King Midas, who’s cursed touch turned everything to gold, The Chocolate Touch is about John Midas who falls under the same afflictions, but with chocolate. This quickly becomes anything but sweet for John, as his new found power begins to negatively affect his life, and health.
Bolivar Elementary set up a website to accompany their OSOB initiative (click here). The website contains a blog with reading comprehension questions, read along videos with members of the community, including many teachers, police officers, and the Mayor of Chittenango. The website also boasts a page with resources for healthy life choices, going right along with the negative health impacts John experiences in the book. Also available on the site were games for the students to play, as well as a photo gallery highlighting the event at the school.
The principle, Ms. Burgess, Sam H.; a football player, and Officer Nourse read aloud from the book.
Even Mayor Keville reads along in a video!
Bolivar Elementary’s website is a shining example of the school- and community-wide effects that come with Read to Them’s One School, One Book initiatives. The community even celebrated the event at a local restaurant, Darlene’s Kitchen, that featured a “John Midas Special” in honor of the book!
Members of the community eating at Darlene’s Kitchen.
Students try to guess the book they will be reading during the festivities leading up to the big book reveal!
A local grocery store with a The Chocolate Touch themed display.
Congratulations to Bolivar Elementary on their first incredibly successful One School, One Book initiative – a shining example to us all!
