One School, One Book programs are a terrific way to bring a whole school
community together. You can find plenty of helpful resources for planning these
events online. You can also find lists of suggested books. But as you peruse
these lists, you’ll notice something missing—nonfiction.
Since research shows that most kids enjoy nonfiction as much as or more
than fiction and that nonfiction can be the gateway to literacy for some young
readers, all school-wide reading programs and events should feature nonfiction
as well as fiction. And One School, One Book is no exception.
But choosing a nonfiction book can be tricky. When educators select
fiction titles for One School, One Book, they look for a great story with
characters and a plot that kids of all ages can connect to. They often choose a
middle grade novel that can be read aloud to younger students, while older
students read it on their own.
This approach often doesn’t work for nonfiction titles because
comprehending middle grade nonfiction generally requires background knowledge
that K-2 students just don’t have. It may also be challenging to find a simpler
nonfiction book that can hold the interest of older students.
What’s the solution? Thinking about topic first. Search for a book about
a topic that will be meaningful to the whole school community. Here are some
questions to guide you:
Does your school have an animal as its mascot? Look for a book about that
creature and introduce it to students by explaining its connection to the
school. Let students know why and how was that animal was chosen as the mascot?
Is there an animal that students often see in the school yard? Maybe a
squirrel or chipmunk or lizard? Have there been recent sightings of a large or
unusual animal in your town, such as a bear or moose or coyote? If so, select a
title about that critter. Students will have a vested interest in learning more
about it.
Is there a large tree growing in front of the school? Find out what
species it is and look for a book about it. If weather permits, students can
read the book while sitting under the tree.
What time of year is it? Search for a book about the season. Or connect
the book to an annual local event.
Is your school named after someone famous? See if you can find a picture
book biography about that person.
Did a famous person live in your town or state? Search for a picture book
biography about them and, before reading, share how the person is connected to
the place where students live.
Once you select a title, consider creating a themed book set with more
books on the topic that students can check out of the school library. This will
give individual students or classrooms the opportunity to explore the topic in
greater detail on their own.
The set can include books intended for a range of reading levels. Feel
free to borrow titles from other schools in your district or the town library. You
can also order them through interlibrary loan.
