This year, Forest Road Elementary had the privilege of participating in the One School, One Book program for the first time, thanks to the generous sponsorship of our PTO. The initiative kicked off in style during our Back to School Assembly, where we revealed the selected book, Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott, to our excited students. From September 11 to September 24, students immersed themselves in daily readings within their homerooms, all while teachers and staff joined in to create a true culture of literacy across the school. Every adult received a copy of the book, sparking conversations throughout every corner of the building.
To make the reading experience even more engaging, students participated in daily trivia questions about the book, announced during the morning broadcast. The excitement wasn’t limited to the classroom, as students were able to take home their own copy of the book to continue their literary adventures beyond school hours. Students also were able to create images to accompany their reading through their art class; certain grade levels made dragon scales, and others made dragon eyes, both displayed throughout the building.
Our chosen book, Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott, introduced students to Jaxon, a young boy from Brooklyn whose ordinary life is turned upside down when he meets a mysterious elderly woman named “Ma.” Together, they embark on a magical adventure full of surprises, including baby dragons! The story’s modern setting combined with its fantasy elements captivated our students, who were thrilled by the possibility of hidden magic in a familiar world.
As a special celebration, on September 26, the PTO treated students to a sweet surprise during lunch, mirroring the dragons in the story who grow bigger with their love of sweets. Just like the dragons, we love watching our students grow as they discover the magic of reading.
One School, One Book is the flagship program of Read to Them, a national nonprofit organization based in Richmond, Virginia, whose mission is to build a culture of literacy in every community. This year’s experience brought us one step closer to making that a reality at Forest Road.
We’re grateful to our PTO for making this year’s program possible, and we look forward to continuing to inspire a love for reading in all our students.