Apr 24, 2008 9:24 PM
More than 30 guest readers participated in PS 254’s fourth annual Community Read Aloud held at the Queens school on March 28. Conceived as part of the school’s strategy for developing its students’ critical-thinking skills in refreshing ways, each year a single inspiring book is chosen for the guests to read to different assigned classes. This year’s selection, chosen by library media specialist Susie Gerloven, was “The Three Questions” by Jon Muth. It takes just a few minutes to read it cover to cover, but the impact of its message is indelible. The story, loosely based on a Leo Tolstoy short story, is a parable about an adventurous boy who aims to be a decent person and seeks help about decision-making from three friends, a heron and a monkey. In seeking answers to three elemental questions about life, he emerges a hero from his experiences. The book in effect chaperones kids to the basic path that leads to a contented life. Its illustrations breathe life into the narrative and captured the children’s imaginations. This year’s readers included parents of students; Kathleen Cashin, who heads the Knowledge Network Learning Support Organization at the Department of Education; and UFT District 27 Representative Marilyn Cooper, a school librarian who, together with parents and Queens UFT Parent Liaison Rose Walker-Yates, has started book clubs in four area schools. “My library, like all libraries, is a place where children laugh, learn, wonder, think, read and smile,” said Gerloven.