Health & Fitness
Palos 118 Celebrates One District One Book Program
Palos 118's second annual One District One Book event at Palos South Middle School celebrated Grace Lin's "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon," and marked the close of the reading program.
A crowd of over 200 enthusiastic readers were in attendance for Palos 118's second annual One District One Book event Wednesday at Palos South Middle School. Students and their families who read Grace Lin’s “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” came to celebrate the novel, and mark the close of the reading program.
Students from Palos East, West, and South, enjoyed making kites, Chinese fans, bookmarks, playing Chinese jump rope, discovering personality traits through Chinese zodiac symbols, tryingtheir luck at the goldfish cart, and other activities. Projects that students created related to the story were also on display, and votes are currently being tallied to determine the winner in each category.
The Chinese proverb, “A book holds a house of gold” is true of “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.” It is a story about a poor, young Chinese girl named Minli, who sets off on a journey to meet the Old Man of the Moon and change her family’s fortune. Along the way, Minli encounters many characters and magical creatures, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest.
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Grace Evans, a Palos East second grader, learned an important lesson from Minli’s journey: “You don’t need things like jewels and money to have good fortune,” she said, “The only thing you need is love.” Her mother Suzy added, “We enjoyed reading the book together.”
“My favorite part of the book was when Minli found out that her fish could talk,” said Lenny Kobilca, who attends Palos West. His father, Lee, said the book was special because it engaged his second grade son, who is not usually an enthusiastic reader.
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“This event exemplifies everything our district is about,” said Palos 118 School Board Vice President, Sheila Pacholski, “Not only does it encourage and celebrate reading, but it is community-building and crosses all age groups.”
Director of Teaching and Learning, Deb Balayti, credited the book choice as one of the reasons the reading program was so successful. “I was very pleased with the participation in the reading program and the hugeturnout for our culminating event,” said Mrs. Balayti, “This book appealed to kids of all ages; kindergarteners and first graders liked having the book read to them, and the folklore appealed to older kids.”
The independent district wide reading adventure began in December as students and their families were invited to read the book and join in district supported online podcasts, blogs, and activities. Balayti and Palos 118 Media Specialists, Gina Shem, Gail Curran, and Rose White, coordinated the event with many staff committee members from Palos 118’s three schools.
