I have been thrilled to learn that two of my books have been chosen for One School, One Book programs (Andy Shane Hero at Last and the forthcoming Small as an Elephant)!  I knew that my friend, author  Jacqueline Davies, has had the opportunity to participate in these fabulous events and asked her to be a guest blogger this week.  Here is what Jackie shared:

Jackie: So far this year, I've visited five schools that have used my book, The Lemonade War , as part of a One School/One Read program. It's a great way to whip up enthusiasm for reading, foster community, and throw a party—all at the same time.
Here's how it works. The school chooses a middle-grade text that can work for the entire school population. (The Lemonade War works well because it's an easy and engaging read-aloud for the primary grades, but it can hold the interest of kids as old as 6th grade.) In most of the schools I visited this fall, the title of the One School/One Read book was announced with great fanfare at an all-school assembly before summer vacation. There'd already been plenty of talk about the program leading up to the assembly, so the unveiling of the selected title had the feeling of an Academy-Award moment. For two of the schools, I provided personalized videos that introduced me to the students and conveyed how excited I was that they would be reading my book. These videos were played JumboTron-style on big screens for the whole school to see.
In most cases, the PTO or school provides books for everyone in the school—and I do mean everyone. The school secretary reads the book. The custodian reads the book. The lunch ladies read the book. Absolutely every student, administrator, faculty member, and support staff person reads the book. Can you imagine the excitement that builds around reading when every person in the school has read the same book? There are book discussions in the hallways, in the cafeteria, in the bathrooms. Everyone has something to say because everyone is an active participant in the event.
In and around the reading of the book are a host of cross-curricular activities—scavenger hunts, decorated bulletin boards, morning messages, art projects, skits, and daily quotations. Many schools have mounted their own Lemonade War, and thereby raised money for a local charity. The possibilities are endless when enthusiasm runs so high.
The culminating event is a visit from the author. When I walk into the lobby of a school that has used my book for a One School/One Read program, the response I get never varies: gasps of excitement, pointed fingers, "That's her! That's the author!" Never mind that it's just me; to these kids, I'm a rock star because in their community they've made me one. The power, of course, comes from the school itself. They've created the rock star moment by coming together as a community, by investing time and money in the program, by saying at every grade level Reading is so important, we're all going to do it together. The winners are the kids, who soak up the message and carry it as their own.
It's amazing what you can do when you harness the energy of an entire school.