Students Participate in National Book Month Activities

In celebration of National Book Month, Turner Public Schools will be engaging with books throughout the month of March. One of those events will be Mystery Reader Mondays. Another was the celebration of the birthday of children's book author Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) on March 2 and Read Across America Week.

Many schools and libraries remember the contributions of Dr. Seuss with Read Across America Week, celebrated from March 2–6 each year. The biggest reading celebration in the United States, the week begins on the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The theme for the week is Create and Celebrate a Nation of Diverse Readers.

In that spirit, Turner Schools has been opening each day of Read Across America Week with a quote from Dr. Seuss celebrating diversity. On Monday, School Librarian Shelly Harmon shared: "Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!" Tuesday followed with another befitting the theme: "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"

Furthermore, each Monday in March a guest reader will be visiting Turner school to read aloud the book nominations for the Treasure State Award (TSA). Sponsored by the Montana State Literacy Association (MSLA), an affiliate of the International Literacy Association, the TSA recognizes picture books for children. Steve and Carole Monlux also sponsor the award. .

The school's first Mystery Reader guest on March 3 was Tyrel Obrecht, a current school board member for Turner Public School and a former graduate. A small crowd of students and faculty gathered in Mrs. Harmon's kindergarten classroom at 1:30 p.m. to hear Obrecht read the first TSA nominee, The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett.

Additional Treasure State Award Nominees for 2025 are A Smart, Smart School by Sharon Creech; Newton and Curie Take Flight by Daniel Kirk; Feathers Together by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso; and Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds.

Since the inception of the award in 1991, books have been honored with the Treasure State Award Winner designation. C.L. Martin's book The Dragon Nanny was the first winner in 1991. The 2024 winner was Ralph Fletcher's The World's Loneliest Elephant. It received 4,743 votes out of the 15,117 total votes cast by students from the 130 schools participating in the award process. Based on a true story, Fletcher's book is about the world's loneliest elephant, Kaavan, and how a few dedicated people rescue him.

From the poor conditions of captivity in a Pakistani zoo to the work of activists and kindness from veterinarian and animal rights crusader Dr. Amir Khalil, Kaavan's story is accessible for grade 1-4 readers. A note at the book's end supplies more specific facts about what really happened. Together, Fletcher and illustrator Naoko Stoop reveal the importance of individual and group action so that Kaavan can live out his life on a reserve.

Votes for the Treasure State Award are due by April 1 and can be submitted either by email to carolemonlux@gmail.com or through the postal service to Carole Monlux at 3738 West Central Avenue in Missoula, MT 59804.

According to their website, the MSLA was organized in 1951 "to stimulate and coordinate statewide activities for the improvement of literacy at all levels." Chartered by the International Reading Association on April 15, 1970, the MSLA initiated annual state conferences in 1976. Among the association's purposes is "to encourage the organization and support of local reading councils and special interest councils in their efforts to promote literacy." One of the ways it promotes literacy is through the TSA.

In determining the TSA winner, Turner students in grades K-3 are eligible to vote for their favorites. These votes, along with those from other participating schools, will be tallied to determine a 2025 winner.

Students at Meadowlark Elementary School in Chinook are also involved in the selection. Chinook School District Librarian Kelsey Harry reported, "We are currently reading the nominated books and will vote at the end of the month."

A pamphlet circulated about the award suggests that "all PreK-3 students in the State of Montana may vote. Students must have read or had read to them all five titles."

In order to be on the ballot-which each year contains five titles-a book is selected from titles published within the last three years prior to the award year. Books can include both fiction and nonfiction picture books.

A full list of past Treasure State Award winners is available on the Montana State Literacy Association's website.