By Debbie Adams
Mount Pleasant Elementary School wrapped up the annual “One School, One Book” reading
program with a closing assembly on Feb. 20. The program began in 2021 with the purpose of
promoting literacy from the school to the home. It reinforces reading instruction, increases
parental involvement, bridges the home-school connection, and builds a community of readers.
Each student receives a copy of the same book that is read both at school and at home as a
family.
This year’s chosen book, read by the Mount Pleasant students and their families, and the teachers
and staff at MPE, was “Because of the Rabbit” by author Cynthia Lord.
According to reading specialist Kristen Seth, the story is about “change, courage, friendship, and
finding your place.”
The main character is Emma, whose summer takes an unexpected turn when she accompanies
her game warden father on a routine call to rescue a wild rabbit from a picket fence and instead
convinces him to bring home the orphaned pet bunny they find.
The author says, “As she transitions to public school after years of homeschooling, Emma
longs to make a best friend. However, her plans unravel when she is paired with Jack, a
quirky classmate who struggles to focus and has a deep fascination with animals. Jack doesn’t
fit in, and Emma’s worried he’ll make her stand out. As Emma grapples with her worries
about fitting in, she and Jack form an unlikely bond over her rescued rabbit. She must
confront the challenge of embracing their friendship while still seeking the connection she
hopes to find.”
This year’s program was a little different than in past years, including Masked Readers who
brought the story to life. Different staff members dressed up in costumes which concealed their
faces and read a chapter from the book to the student body each day. Characters included Darth
Vader, a rabbit, a dog, a hippo, a LEGO, a duck, a snowman, pink and blue sharks, and more.
Students kept a log of who they thought each masked reader was; they were then revealed at the
wrap up program in the gym.
“One School, One Book” closing assembly. (photos by Debbie Adams)
After the assembly, all students received a free book from the same author as well as a special
“inspiration stone” that students had painted during library class.
The inspiration stones were an element of the “Because of the Rabbit” story. The small stones
carried big meaning for Emma and the other characters. They were reminders of kindness,
courage, hope, and friendship. They showed that even something small could make a big
difference.
Each child chose a rock painted by another student. Librarian Lynez Humphries asked students
to use the stones as reminders “that you belong here; you are brave when things feel new or hard;
kindness can change someone’s day; even small actions like a smile, a kind word, or including
someone new, can have a big impact. Just like in the story, you have the power to help someone
feel welcome and to be someone’s inspiration.”
stone at the end of the “One School, One Book” reading program.
She asked them to keep their stone somewhere special and whenever they saw it, “to remember
the story they all shared, the community they built, and the difference you can make every day.”
