The Thunder Bolt

Concordia’s Elementary School recently celebrated Book Week! One of Concordia’s beloved Elementary School traditions, Book Week includes a series of reading-related activities designed to get students reading, listening to, and discussing books, while fostering their love of reading.

“Book Week is an annual Concordia tradition of celebrating reading and books. By participating in Book Week, our students experience new and favorite books, meet an author, and engage in a variety of creative and fun activities,” explained Elementary Vice-Principal, Ms. Faulkner.

“Our Book Week theme this year, 'Reading is Magic,' explores the creativity, imagination, and joy that come from being immersed in a good book,” Ms. Faulkner added.

On Tuesday of Book Week, Concordia Elementary School students gathered in Gym A to “Drop Everything and Read,” coinciding with Pajama Day. Teachers, Middle School students, and parents read to some Elementary School students, while other students picked up their favorite books and simply enjoyed sitting and reading.

Upper Elementary students were also paired with younger students to read together as “buddies” during designated reading blocks.

On Thursday of Book Week, Elementary School students came dressed as their favorite book characters and participated in a parade!

Throughout the week, faculty and staff visited classrooms as “mystery readers” to read their favorite childhood stories.

Concordia Librarian Ms. Taylor shared: “Book Week is a time when the celebration of books and reading spreads throughout the whole school community. We spend the week sharing books, talking about reading, having fun dressing up as book characters, and engaging in many other activities that help unlock the magic that happens when you are immersed in a good book. In the words of author Stephen King, ‘Books are a uniquely portable magic.’”

Elementary students shared some of their favorite Book Week moments: 

“Our favorite part of Book Week was reading with the big kids,” said Elianna and Nao (Preschool). 

“My favorite part was getting to dress up as characters because students could be creative in what they dressed up as,” said Chaelin (Grade 4). 

“I liked dressing up as my favorite character,” said Zach (Reception). 

“My favorite part was taking pictures,” said Tue Nga (Reception). 

“I liked doing the buddy reading,” said Nael (Reception). 

“My favorite part was the Drop Everything and Read time, and book buddies. I liked that we could read to the younger grades and look at a picture book again, since we’re fourth graders,” said Seha (Grade 4).

Visit by Acclaimed Children’s Book Author Tad Hills

This year’s Book Week special guest was renowned children’s book author Tad Hills, the creator of the acclaimed Rocket series, which includes Rocket Learns to Read.
Mr. Hills visited classes, conducted creativity seminars, and coached students on writing and illustrating. He also read from some of his books.

“In the classrooms, I talked with the kids about the process of writing and illustrating. The students were interested in how books are made and the creative process, and I think they learned a lot. They were surprised to hear how long it took to write and illustrate a book, but they were very enthusiastic about learning the process. They asked great questions and were very good listeners—I was very impressed,” said Mr. Hills, adding: “The whole community here is really nice. I met some parents, and I just had a really nice time here in Hanoi at Concordia.”

When asked for any advice he had for aspiring authors, Mr. Hills shared:

“As an author, my advice to young writers is that writing is not an easy job. It takes a long time to write; sometimes it's hard to think of ideas, and you never know where ideas are going to come from. But when those ideas do come, take advantage of them and write them down. Once you start writing, the ideas start to flow. The more you write, the more ideas will come. So stick with it, and have fun too! Read a lot of books and be very observant. Watch what happens around you, what people are doing, and listen to what they say—listen to conversations. Then perhaps you can be inspired to write a story.”

Learn more about how Concordia’s Elementary School program cultivates a love of reading in every student.