Fourth-Graders Participate in Escape from the Lower School Library Event
Can twelve 12-year-olds escape from the most ridiculously brilliant library ever created? Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, by Chris Grabenstein, plunks a dozen students into the middle of a futuristic library for a night of nonstop fun and adventure.
This book is typically the final book of the year for the Fourth-Grade Parent-Child Book Club sponsored by Lower School Learning Specialist Teresa Hoppe. This year, all fourth-graders were invited to read the book and participate in Escape from the Lower School Library events by classroom in the Moncrief Library, which featured Dr. Zinchenko (Tammy Wolford) and Luigi Lemoncello (Hoppe).
In a nod to Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library is a fast-paced novel featuring an eccentric billionaire who welcomes a group of children into a fantasy setting full of weird, wondrous touches. It is more than a book full of humor and suspense: It’s a game in itself, a game where readers have fun solving clues and answering riddles while learning how to navigate the Dewey Decimal system. Eagle-eyed kids — not to mention their parents, teachers and librarians — can also hunt for the names of authors and classic books sprinkled throughout the story.
“After hearing author Chris Grabenstein speak at the Dallas Museum of Art five years ago, I was inspired to do something special related to the book and its sequel, Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics,” Hoppe said. “Tammy, the library team, and I collaborated to plan a special book club/library adventure in May 2016. It has been an annual event ever since.”
This year, each classroom participated in the event in the Moncrief Library during the school day on May 20. Students were placed on teams for the “Escape from the Lower School Library” scavenger hunt and library games.” Using clues to locate books and various places, the students began to familiarize themselves with the Moncrief Library, which we hope will become a much-visited place as they transition to the Mason Middle School,” Hoppe said. “At the conclusion of the event, special book-related prizes were awarded to winning teams.”
During this time, the students also met Kim Gardner, Middle School Librarian, and Sarah Blan, Upper School Librarian, and learned about fifth-grade summer reading and how the Moncrief Library is integrated into FWCD’s Middle School program.
Hoppe began the Fourth-Grade Parent-Child Book Club at FWCD eight years ago. “At the time, I wanted to discuss and share some great books I had read with my older son, Christopher,” Hoppe said. “When I no longer had a fourth-grader, I was eager to continue facilitating this book club. Some of our sessions have been among the most thoughtful, inspiring book discussions I’ve had.”
The event was special for Hoppe this year as well. Christopher, who graduated from FWCD on May 14, served as the gamekeeper at the event.
With Wolford and Hoppe staying completely in character, the students enjoy the antics of Dr. Zinchenko and Mr. Limoncello almost more than the games themselves!
