Scholastic Principal Challenge: On the Hunt for a Good Book

On Monday, I participated in the Principal Challenge. My goal: Read from the morning bell to dismissal time. This initiative is promoted by the Scholastic Book It Program. The theme for my second year was "Hunting for a Good Book".

I haven't deer hunted in four years (both of my kids were born around opening day). I had to dust off my hat and coat for this event.

My library aide and her family hooked me up with a fake fire and the cozy reading chair. She also set out several nonfiction titles related to the theme.

Yes, these are all catalogued in our school library. Welcome to Wisconsin!

I had brought several books and journals to my "hunting shack" in the library. However, I had very little time to read. The previous week, students were encouraged to recommend a favorite book to me while visiting the library. This resulted in 85 students suggesting titles to me throughout the day!

My day was spent taking pictures of students with a favorite book, asking them why they were recommending it, and documenting the title and author on a Google Doc. This Doc was shared with staff so they could see what students were currently reading and share these recommendations with other students. The pictures are on display in the front lobby. The students didn't get to see me read. Instead, they observed how interested I was in what they were reading for enjoyment. They also had the opportunity to practice giving a book talk for an authentic audience.

The Principal Challenge is still going on through Friday, November 14. If you are a building principal, at whatever level, I cannot imagine a more important activity you could do than letting your students see you as a person who values literature and literacy.

Below is a listing of all the books recommended to me by our students, organized by grade level. "NF" denotes nonfiction.

Kindergarten From Head to Toe by Eric Carle Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee A Place for Zero by Angelie Sparagna LoPresti (NF) Exploring Space by David Conrad (NF) On Beyond Bugs! All About Insects by Tish Rabe (NF) Stars by Thomas K. Adamson (NF) Biscuit (series) by Alyssa Satin Capucilli Yikes!!! by Robert Florczak The Great White Shark by Lisa Owings (NF) Dolphins by Martha E. H. Rustad (NF) Warthogs Paint: A Messy Color Book by Pamela Duncan Edwards Buffalo Sunrise: The Story of a North American Giant by Diane Swanson (NF) The Two of Them by Aliki A to Z: Do You Ever Feel Like Me? by Bonnie Hausman Time for Bed by Mem Fox A Knight’s Book by Ali Mitgutsch Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis The Thanksgiving Beast Feast by Karen Gray Ruelle Hotshots! by Chris Demarest (NF) Big Mean Mike by Michelle Knudsen 1st Grade Pinkalicious by Victoria Kahn The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Dawalt Junie B. Jones, First Grader by Barbara Park Biscuit (series) by Alyssa Satin Capucilli 2nd Grade Babymouse by Jennifer Holm Poor Puppy and Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel Mr. Putty and Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant Silverlicious by Victoria Kahn How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town by Steven Kellogg Dusk by Uri Shulevitz Stink and the World’s Worst Super Stinky Sneakers by Judy McDonald Rescue Helicopters by Becky Olien (NF) The Truth About Unicorns by Molly Blaisdell (NF) A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy Should I Share My Ice Cream? An Elephant and Piggie book by Mo Willems Heidi Hecklebeck by Wanda Coven Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney After Happily Ever After by Tony Bradman 1-2-3 Peas by Keith Baker The Never Girls by Kiki Thorpe Ish by Peter H. Reynolds A Mink, a Fink, a Skating Rink: What is a Noun? by Brian P. Cleary (NF) 3rd Grade The Curious Garden by Peter Brown Spider Man vs. The Green Goblin by Susan Hill Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney The U.S. Air Force by Matt Doeden (NF) Junie B. Jones: Dumb Bunny by Barbara Park Jake Maddox: BMX Bully National Geographic Little Kids Magazine (NF) The Life Cycle of a Sea Horse by Colleen Sexton (NF) Chamelia and the New Kid in Class by Ethan Long Look Out, Suzy Goose by Petr Horacek Goosebumps: Horrorland by R.L. Stine Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot by Dav Pilkey Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney Geronimo Stilton: Watch Your Whiskers, Stilton! The Boy Who Swallowed Snakes by Laurence Yep The Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbott Stellaluna by Janell Cannon Deer Hunting by Thomas K. Adamson (NF) Vampires by Jennifer M. Besel (NF) Ivy and Bean and the Ghost That Had to Go by Annie Barrows Let’s Play Soccer by Heather Adamson (NF) Wonder by R.J. Palacio Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward Freshwater Fishing by Carol K. Lindeen (NF) Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney All About German Shepherds by Erika L. Shores (NF) 4th Grade Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass Loser by Jerry Spinelli A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park 5th Grade The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Park Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery by Nancy Springer Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: The New Girl by Meg Cabot Harry Potter (series) by J.K. Rowling The Bar Code Rebellion by Suzanne Weyn Smells Like Dog by Suzanne Selfors The Odd Squad by Michael Fry A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup Fablehaven by Brandon Mull Agent Amelia: Zombie Cows by Michael Broad Warriors (series) by Erin Hunter The Neverending Story by Michael Ende Beast Quest (series) by Adam Blade Swindle (series) by Gordan Korman The Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick