Brandenburg sixth graders recently got a taste of great reading at the CCBMS Library Cafe! Ms. Lemons, Brandenburg's librarian, hosted a Genre Book Tasting, a fun and interactive event designed to spark students' curiosity and help them discover their next favorite book. Before diving in, the class explored smart strategies for finding great reads, including continuing a series, seeking out a favorite author, using the genre dot stickers on book spines, browsing library posters and flyers, and asking a friend or teacher for a recommendation. Students then had the chance to browse a carefully curated selection of books spanning a wide range of genres including Fantasy, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, and Realistic Fiction. All featured titles were drawn from prestigious lists such as the Lone Star List, the Texas Bluebonnet List, and Newbery Award winners, as well as Ms. Lemons' own personal favorites.
Using their "Genre Menus" from the CCBMS Library Cafe, students sampled books by recording titles, authors, and genres, rating cover appeal, and noting how intriguing each book sounded to them. The completed menus give Ms. Lemons valuable insight into student reading interests, feedback she can use to guide future book purchases for the library. It was a delicious way to build reading excitement and ensure Brandenburg's collection keeps growing to meet students right where their interests are!