Parent-Child Book Club Month at YOF

With over 280 participants and 17 parent facilitators, Parent-Child Book Club month this May was a grand culmination of parents, students and educators working toward the leisurely pursuit of reading.

From the intensely heartbreaking to the wildly magnificent, the selected books reflected a wide range of human and superhuman experience. Imagine magical candy that could bestow the gift of flight, an accursed china rabbit dressed in fine silk suits and carrying a gold pocket watch, and a 12-year-old boy turned millionaire in one year’s time! The suspension of disbelief is the perfect antidote to our daily stresses and can be found in the award-winning book selections of May’s Parent-Child Book Club.

Parent-Child Book Club was born out of a cozy, round table discussion graciously hosted by Mrs. Adele Laboz last May. Fifteen involved parents; Mrs. Barbara Zelenetz, Director of Middle Division Language Arts Curriculum; and Mrs. Joyce Salame, Director of Lower Division Language Arts Curriculum, were in attendance.

An anonymous person once said, “Good children’s literature appeals not only to the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.” Among other wonderful suggestions to encourage and stimulate a culture of reading within our Yeshivah community, Parent-Child Book Clubs could strengthen the parent-child bond through time spent reading together and discussing the book while promoting reading for pleasure. In fact, book clubs have been springing up all over the country; in schools, living rooms, cafes, community centers and now—for the first time ever—PKRE’s (Parents and Kids Read for Enjoyment) Parent-Child Book Club at the Yeshivah of Flatbush Elementary School!

There are many types of book clubs. Whether it’s mother-daughter, father-son, sci-fi or historical fiction, book clubs share similar features. Members read the same book and convene for a discussion in a chosen locale. Members are usually led by a facilitator in the discussion. The host can act as the facilitator or members may take turns facilitating discussions. Snacks and refreshments are usually served, and most of all, members enjoy sharing their thoughts about the book.

Choosing the books is quite another matter. Book clubs can be very discriminating in taste, but when selecting a book, the most important aspect to consider is discussion value. You may read a great book for pleasure, but there may not necessarily be much to discuss. Conversely, some books that aren’t great reads may provide good fodder for discussion. Generating good discussion is a major component of a successful book club.

When choosing appropriate children’s books, reading level and subject matter must be given priority, as well as a host of additional considerations. After reading dozens of books from booklists, libraries, bookstores, and receiving recommendations from Ms. Lynne Grant, our fantastic school librarian, the following books were selected: Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill, The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull and Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings.

Mrs. Sarah Khdideh and I began the laborious process of recruiting facilitators from amongst our parent body, meeting with them in groups and individually to discuss facilitator responsibilities. Facilitators got to work immediately, preparing questions and doing their research with guidance and supervision from Mrs. Sarah Khdideh, Mrs. Diana Tzvi Goldberg and myself. Simultaneously, we set to work on marketing the book club. To this end, we are grateful for the ingenuity and remarkable creativity of Mrs. Bertha Sabbagh, who is single-handedly responsible for the fresh and fun look of all our registration postcards, flyers and logo.

Thanks to our 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th grade sponsors—Shayne and Eli Zami, Melissa and Albert Sutton, Ricci and James Haddad, Vivian and Joseph Douek, and Iris and Ezra Shalam, respectively—children had an extraordinary opportunity to spend time with their parents, as one facilitator Rachel Hasson put it, “in an adult activity” with parents really listening to their children and taking them seriously.

On the evenings of May 11th, 14th, and 21th, “Parent-Child Book Club” discussions were held in various locations around the school. Each of the 17 groups sat in circles while facilitators conducted the discussions and a light, cheery atmosphere prevailed. Each parent facilitator had his/her own style of leading a discussion group, and it was wonderful to watch group participants interact.

Our facilitators did an amazing job. Special thanks to Annie Azrak, Iris Bukobza, Monique Chera, Franci Cohen, Andrea Falack, Selena Gindi, Rachel Hasson, Sarah Idy, Joelle Lessler, Miriam Levy, Ilene Marcus, Sandra Marcus, Michelle Saad, Gregg Salzman, Florence Schneider, Michele Terzi and Rachel Zeitoune. Many activities and techniques were tried by our facilitators to encourage participation, including sequencing games with pictures, parent-child questions and ice-breaker word games. Facilitators took pride in their individual preparations for the discussion, their ability to lead a discussion group, and the children, who spoke so eloquently, shared sophisticated insights and thoroughly enjoyed their first book club experience.

Surveys revealed that the students had so much fun! They not only relished the book-themed snacks and refreshments but they enjoyed spending time with their parents, voicing their own thoughts, listening to their friends’ opinions, and gaining new insights on the book. Students were thrilled to be part of a club meant just for them and their parents. Students whose parents were facilitators were delighted to have their own parent lead. When asked if they would join again next year and ask their friends to join with them, students resoundingly responded, “Yes!”

PKRE closed the chapter on May’s Parent-Child Book Club with a grand raffle.  Mr. Zeplin picked the winner out of a hat—Marvin Azrak of the 4th grade, who won the Amazon Kindle 2, the newest wireless reading device from Amazon!

In the works for next year’s book clubs are some exciting themes, innovations and improvements to make PKRE’s Parent-Child Book Club program of lasting quality and promote further parent-child participation. PKRE thanks all of the parents and kids who participated, and all of the dedicated individuals involved in creating a climate of reading for pleasure in our school. The program owes a huge part of its success to Mrs. Sarah Khdideh, an avid reader and tireless parent volunteer, who spent countless hours reading, working and researching. Her energy galvanized our efforts in implementing a well-scripted, well-run program.
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Maggie Betesh is a YOF parent, alumna and a member of the Board of Education.