HUNTINGTON — Littleville Elementary School participated in the “One School One Book” initiative this fall, with the whole school reading “A Boy Named Bat,” by Elana Arnold, a story about a boy who wants to keep an orphaned skunk that his mother, a veterinarian, brought home to care for. He has one month to show his mom that the skunk would be a terrific pet.
“The book is about first friendship — the baby skunk helps Bat cope with divorce, school and autism,” said reading specialist Margaret Petzold, who led the One School One Book effort which began on Sept. 16.
Petzold said over the last four weeks, teachers read aloud a chapter a day to their students and had a daily discussion about each chapter. Kindergartners and first graders listened to their teacher read it; and older students received their own copies to read along with the teacher, and take home afterwards.
Every morning, during morning announcements, a quote was shared and one student who could explain the quote from each class could go to the office for an incentive.
“Since this book was shared throughout the Littleville Elementary community, the fifth grade students would go to the kindergarten classes to reread a chapter and create another book related craft. The Littleville art teacher, Chris O’Malley, had students create beautiful skunk drawings on black construction paper with black and white chalk pastels during art class,” said Petzold.
On Oct. 25, the school celebrated having finished the book and the One School, One Book program. Petzold said staff and students were invited to wear black and white to honor the baby skunk, Thor, from the book, and they did not disappoint.
“Little skunk and animal figurines were hidden throughout the school for the students to participate in a scavenger hunt,” said Petzold.
One student from each class was also “skunked” with a picture of a skunk taped in their locker, an honor they were chosen to receive along with a special treat because they had been an active participant in the book discussion.
Other activities throughout the day included illustrating a cover for the book, writing and illustrating their favorite part of the story and having Oreo cookies to stick with the black and white theme for a special snack. Some classes even made skunk headbands for the students to wear during the day, Petzold said. During recesses, the skunk theme was continued by having Thor (Assistant Principal, Martha Gendron dressed as a skunk) visit the students for a chat.
Petzold said as the Littleville Elementary community embraced this whole experience, some students purchased the second book in the series to continue to learn how the world unfolds for Bat, the main character.
