Sampling Books at Literary Tasting

From the Briarcliff schools

Students snacked on pretzels and sipped water while examining their tasting cards at the first Sixth Grade Literary Tasting in the middle school library on Dec. 18.

Library Media Specialist Katherine McCabe took on the role of head chef for the day, spreading out books of several different genres throughout the room.

“The goal is for the students to find something they maybe wouldn’t have picked up on their own,” McCabe said. “They are finding books in which they wouldn’t have necessarily been interested.”

Every sixth-grader visited the room throughout the day with their English teachers, acting as sous chefs for the occasion.

“I really enjoy action and comic books,” said sixth-grader Breno, as he flipped through some graphic novel options.

English teacher Susan Mauriello said it’s important to keep students engaged in reading activities.

“Events like this are great to keep them interested,” she said.

Some students found new books to check out and read over the holiday break and wrote down others they hope to read before they leave middle school.

“Historical fiction is my favorite [genre],” McCabe said, “because you learn something without really trying.”