Book club shows kids the benefits of reading

The kids who walked through the glass doors of Keene Memorial Library Monday night crossed a barrier with farther reaching consequences than Alice’s Wonderland looking glass.

It’s a place where the mingling of fantasy and reality can stir imagination and foster independent thinking.

Between quick dabbles into the popcorn dish, sips of a red beverage, games, laughs and insightful ponderings over a charming but perpetually worried little hamster named Humphrey the kids attending the Golden Sower Book Club, directed by Karen Choy, children’s librarian, learned what it means to possess that skill called reading. And the Golden Sower, who stands barefoot atop the Nebraska state capital building, sowing seeds of prosperity across the state, represents that meaning.

The Golden Sower was chosen as the Nebraska children’s choice literary award, an honor bestowed by children and for children. Every year Nebraska children read from a list of about 10 nominations and vote to honor three books for the recognition. Sponsored by the Nebraska Library Association, all the nominations come from students within each age group: Kindergarten through third grade; grades four through six; and young adult (seventh-12th). The library’s club serves grades four to six.

For kids such as Xavier Hurst, a fifth-grader at Clarmar Elementary School, Monday nights at the library provide the motivation to read and the opportunity to enjoy the company of friends.

Through imagination, discussion, food, fun and critique the Keene Library’s Golden Sower book club introduces children to the benefits of reading.

“I’m doing this to encourage (children) to read the books. These are good books that are chosen by librarians and teachers across the state,” Choy said.

“It’s really fun with Karen because she always has different activities,” Xavier said.

Choy said the library’s book club provides a social interaction outside school. Children attending can establish friendships from across Fremont. On Monday, students from Bell Field, Clarmar and Washington elementaries and Fremont Middle School all arrived with book in hand to share in the discussion of “The World According to Humphrey” by Betty G. Birney, a story about a hamster who can read, write and reason as well as anyone.

Choy led the discussion, games and activities that addressed everything from the creative process as well as other books to learn more about caring for hamsters or about the world of animals.

For Sara Hancock, a fourth-grader at Bell Field, the book club provides one outlet for her reading appetite. Sara already has read all 10 nominated books.

But Sara’s interest in reading didn’t grow on its own. Angie, Sara’s mother, read to Sara and her brother, Nathan, before bed. Angie said encouraging her children to read has always been a priority.

From reading, other interests blossom as well. Angie said her daughter has been a writer ever since she first started reading. In first grade Sara wrote a true story about a tornado and the neighborhood happenings that people engaged in just before the gray and quietly boiling skies gave way to tumult. That story earned Sara a trip to Young Authors Conference.

For Angie the importance of the book club reaches far into her daughter’s future. She said reading is something Sara will take with her, and need, everywhere she goes. It provides insight, imagination, independent thinking and fosters an appreciation for writing and illustrating.

“Karen is wonderful,” Angie said, referring to Choy’s guidance of the book club. “It’s awesome that she’s doing this.”

Monday night was only the second meeting for this year’s club. Next week the club will discuss “Project Mulberry” by Linda Sue Park. The club runs through May when the annual Golden Sower Party takes place at the library.

To attend the party club members are required to vote for the Golden Sower nominations. To vote, members must read at least four of the books.