![\"IMG_6808](\"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/IMG_6808-Barton-Arnold-and-Fortuna.jpg\")
<\/a>The principal announced her \u201cPanther Picks\u201d to students in November. It\u2019s a list of 10 books she selected with library media specialist Beth Orr after they reviewed lists of book recommendations for young readers as well as doing their own research. They wanted to ensure it included a mix of genres and topics that would appeal to boys, girls and both.<\/p>\nEvery fourth- and fifth-grade class received a set of the 10 books for the classroom. Third-grade teachers also have select books and are reading books aloud to students in class. Students in grades 4-5 are reading on their own.<\/p>\n
Barton-Arnold delivers a live \u201ccommercial\u201d for each book while students are visiting the library. She knows she needs to sell it to them, at least while it\u2019s still new.<\/p>\n
Staff members are reading the books as well and keeping track of Panther Picks readers so that certificates can be issued later in the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe goal is to read it, return it and get another one,\u201d explained Barton-Arnold. \u201cWe tell students, \u2018Something on this 10-book list is the perfect book for you! Find that book.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The most popular book so far, Secret Coders<\/em> by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes, is one that Barton-Arnold saw in the newspaper in review written by a student reader.<\/p>\n Now Parkway students are the book reviewers, discussing chapters and plots with each other in scheduled book talks that Barton-Arnold plans to host throughout the year.<\/p>\n Davion Mullen-Reynolds has already read eight Panther Picks and shows no signs of stopping.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m reading Cicada Summer<\/em> now,\u201d said the fifth-grader of his ninth book. \u201cI\u2019m going to read all 10.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt he will.<\/p>\n But first, he is more than happy to discuss his favorite book so far.<\/p>\n \u201cSecret Coders<\/em> is a book about a girl who is new to a school, and it\u2019s a mysterious school,\u201d Mullen-Reynolds explained. \u201cAnd, she finds this little turtle. His name is Little Guy. But he\u2019s a computer turtle, and she found him in a shed. She programs him to get past the mysterious school.\u201d<\/p>\n He talks about other characters including a janitor, binary birds, and a few other students who are all coding.<\/p>\n \u201cI liked it because I like coding and computers, so I thought it was real interesting. I highly recommend it,\u201d said Mullen-Reynolds.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u201cIf they read the book they get to come to the book talk,\u201d said Barton-Arnold. \u201cIf they read four, they get to come to an end-of-year party.\u201d<\/p>\n