Books in Action

Where else could you play in the World Series of Workup, crawl through Araminta's creepy haunted house, write pizza poetry, eat fabulous diner food, test your presidential trivia with President Obama, do hands-on science in Simon Bloom's lab and toss toilet paper rolls in Patience, KS???? Where else but Books in Action! We had a blast! 125 readers and more than 40 volunteers brought their energy to Shutesbury Elementary for the 9th Books in Action, our unique celebration of reading and the Massachusetts Children's Book Award.

I'd like to thank the volunteers from Shutesbury who did a wonderful job: Kelley Allan, Lucy Gertz, Michelle Rogalski, Jen Davies, Margaret Simmons, Alicia Walter, Marilyn Sylla, Mark Protti, Rachael McLean, Polly Ingraham, Lynmarie Thompson, Laura Thompson-Martin, Craig Martin, Jen Dolan, Susan Reyes, Andrea Rogers, Sharon Davenport, Elena Hayes and Karen Traub.

Special thanks to SES staff members Andrea Elson, Emily Sears and Stephen Sullivan who showed that in addition to being good teachers, they are also exceptional game show hosts! Thanks to the other half of the information literacy team, Debbie Lee, who picked up the slack while I focused on game day.

Thanks to Chef Lonny Ricketts who was amazing at keeping the delicious food flowing in the diner. And to Mr. Bob Mahler for his help in keeping the evening flowing smoothly and his enthusiastic support of MCBA and the library program.

Thank you to the SES staff who allowed us to use their classrooms, endured distractions and provided unending support through the whole MCBA program.

The roar that erupts from the students when the winning book is announced at the end of the evening makes it all worthwhile (this year a tie-Found and Simon Bloom Gravity Keeper- wahoo!)

Congratulations to all our Union 28 MCBA readers!