By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Last year’s 1 Book BG about Humphrey the hamster caused hamster sales to spike in the Bowling Green area. This year’s book could cause chocolate sales to do the same.
“That was such a hard act to follow,” Crim third grade teacher Jonelle Semancik said. “We were hoping to strike gold with this one.”
It may not be gold – but chocolate is just as good.
Bowling Green City Schools has started its second annual 1 Book BG program, which engages all 1,700 of its pre-kindergartners through its fifth graders to read the same book. This year, the book is “The Chocolate Touch.”
The story is a twist on the ancient Midas touch tale, but in this case it’s about a young boy who loves chocolate. He eats so much that the doctor advises his parents to restrict the sweets. The boy is not pleased, until he comes upon a spell that turns everything his lips touch to chocolate. While initially a dream come true, you can imagine the problems that might arise.
The 1 Book BG program gets everyone in the three elementaries on board reading the same book – whether it’s being read aloud to the younger students, or by themselves by the older students.
“It’s to really build a love of reading with the kids – to create a love of lifelong reading,” Semancik said.
Students work on reading activities in Crim third grade classroom.
Crim Elementary held a family night event Monday evening, encouraging parents to get on board. School counselor Mary Beth Ellison, dressed as a blue M&M, greeted the families.
“Everybody is working together,” Ellison said, noting the enthusiasm of the students. “They come in with their books, reading before school.”
The program doesn’t stop at the school doors. The entire community is asked to get involved.
“We want anyone in contact with children to show how important reading is,” Semancik said.
This year, 12 Bowling Green businesses have gotten involved by becoming trivia sites for the students. Each week, new trivia questions about the book are posed at the sites.
“We wanted to get out in the community and get them involved in the schools,” Semancik said.
Jumping on board was the Wood County District Public Library, which has displayed books about chocolate all around the library.
Maria Simon, head of youth services at the library, stocked up on chocolate puns for the program.
“This gives kids a taste for reading,” she said with a smile. “It’s just making reading fun. It’s making reading a pleasure. It’s a joyful experience. It’s a book the whole family can read together.”
Families spell out words using Hershey kisses.
As part of the 1 Book BG effort, the library has made a long list of all the chocolate-related books – from children’s picture books, to how-to chocolate cooking books, to non-fiction on the science behind chocolate.
“We like to say we have chocolate all over the library,” Simon said with another grin. “We’re like a box of chocolates. There’s something for everyone at the library.”
To encourage more reading, the library staff has hidden golden tickets in books for Willy Wonka type raffles.
Simon praised the school district for its efforts to encourage reading.
“We are seeing new faces at the library,” she said. “There are a lot of teachers really working hard to make this happen.”
On Monday night, the teachers at Crim were making their work look pretty sweet.
First grade teacher September Killy-Knight was watching as children and their parents formed words out of Hershey chocolate kisses with letters written on the bottoms. At other desks, children were forming letters on zip-loc baggies of chocolate and vanilla pudding.
“Everyone can relate to chocolate,” Killy-Knight said, adding that the program came at a perfect time for Valentine’s Day.
“We may have to eat these tomorrow,” she said, looking at the Hershey kisses being made into words.
Helping Semancik as the primary planners behind this year’s 1 Book BG were Jeni Niekamp, Tami Lynch and Jen Ostrowski.
And as far as overdosing on chocolate – the staff is willing to make that sacrifice.
“I can hardly believe you can have too much chocolate,” Semancik said.
