Southbury Elementary Hosts First Breakfast Book Chat

It was 7:30 a.m. and students were arriving at Southbury Elementary School.

Some carried a bag that contained breakfast, others held money to purchase something to eat through the school’s breakfast program.

All had an excited gleam in their eye.

Over 120 third, fourth and fifth graders came to school early to participate in the first Southbury Elementary Breakfast Book Chat, coordinated by fifth grade teacher Tim Harris on Sept. 27.

Harris, who previously taught at Lakewood Creek Elementary, had implemented the program there with much success.

For the first book chat at Southbury, Harris said there were less kids than Lakewood Creek, but the percentage was about the same. “It’s about half of the third, fourth and fifth graders,” he said. “It’s pretty amazing.”

Harris said what he loves most about the program is that it, “Gets kids excited about reading. To see them… not just excited about sports, or a video game, but excited about reading and listening to their teachers read a book.”

Third grader teacher Rachel Morrison was the first presenter of the year, talking about the book “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” by Chris Grabenstein.

Morrison said she’s a huge Roald Dahl fan and her current class is reading “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” And “Escape” is just like “Charlie” except that instead of candy there are books and it takes place in a crazy library, not a candy factory. 

“I tried to choose one that would be interesting to me, but be really interesting to you guys,” Morrison told the students.

The book involves plenty of puzzles and riddles and students had the chance to try some out Rebus Puzzles after Morrison read them some excerpts from the book.

Harris said they are planning to do a Breakfast Book Chat on the last Friday of every month.