The Great Molasses Flood

I love learning more about local (Massachusetts) history and this book was terrific. It is so hard to imagine that this really happened---a tsunami of thick, gooey molasses flowing down the street and trapping everyone in its path.

The I Survived series is one of the most popular series in the library, and each book opens our eyes to an exciting historic event.

Learn more about the Great Molasses Flood Here.

The new list is here!

This is the moment readers have waited for all spring...the 2021 MCBA list is here!

Happy Summer Reading!

Ladies and Gentleman...we have a winner!

Varsity Readers

Congratulations to our 16 Varsity Readers who read 20 or more MCBA books! It is a huge accomplishment and shows determination and persistence. Great job!

BOTB Champions

#yearoftheteacher

After seven years the time has come!
Congratulations to our 2020 Battle of the Books Champions, the Teacher Team!
Katie MacCallum, Sue Robertson, Casey Ahern, Eric Bordua, and Anna Wetherby

Congratulations to our Parent team who came in second:
Erin Cherewatti, Elizabeth Dunaway, Jenn Gagne, Anne Lozier, and Emily Rich

And our third place team, the Sixth Grade Champions
Wilder Mahoney, Charlie Rolland, Daisy Rolland, and Isabel Sorkin-Camacho

It was a close, fierce fight until the end. Congratulations to all of our participants!

Stories in Action

More than 60 readers filled the Polk Building on Thursday afternoon for our third Stories in Action. Students tried their hand at MCBA Mini-Golf, experienced Scar Island, and enjoyed the winning book cake, mummy sticks and dog treats at the snack station. They tried to make money on Poplar Lane, tested their book knowledge with Minute-to-Win-It games and MCBA Jeopardy, and visited the Ancient Egypt Museum. It was a fast-paced, super fun afternoon celebrating the books we have read together this MCBA season.
 

Thank you to our amazing teachers: Jerry Dobosz, Alice Gearhart, Erin Cromack, Emily Lent, Eric Bordua, Katie MacCallum, Patrick Tenero and Barak Blackburn for all of their help in creating and running games. Thank you to a wonderful group of parents who volunteered their time to help make the afternoon special: Anne Lozier, Will Furness, Jen Paasch, Wendy Van Epps, Kate Rolland, Jane Zhang, Jennifer Cox, Desiree Kicza, Jenn Gagne, Jordi Herold, Sarah Schatz, Sharon Qin, Jaime Billings, and Kerry Shaw. It takes a village to raise strong readers. 💗

The Winning Book is revealed!

Bement students have chosen Ban this Book by Alan Gratz as their favorite for 2020. Honor books were Restart in second place, The Crossover in third, and in a tie for fourth place, The Girl who Drank the Moon and New Kid. Our results have been forward to Salem State University where they will be added to the state vote and the winner announce in just a few weeks.