Book Buzz is a program we began several years ago, with one 4th grade teacher from one of our elementary schools. She is and has been a frequent patron at our library, and we approached her about sharing some of our new middle grade titles with her students. She welcomed us with open arms, and what we thought would be a one time thing, has turned into FOUR years, 3 schools, 21 classrooms and teachers, and dozens of new books shared with Clarkston kids!
Once a month we take grade-level appropriate books to classrooms and get kids excited about them! It is one of our favorite parts of our jobs. Watching 2-4th graders get excited about and make connections with the books we share is so fulfilling.
The program was conceived with the idea that we would get kids to come to the library to check out these books. And that happens. Like today for instance, I book talked The Boy,
The Bird and the Coffin Maker, and before I could even return to the book to the library, a student was at our desk asking for it!
And we love that, but also, thanks to some great organizations in our community like The Friends of the Clarkston Independence District Library and the Clarkston Optimists, who were willing to fund this program - we are able to leave copies of the books in all the classrooms we go to. Teachers and students can enjoy them for years to come!