Reading came alive in an exciting and interactive way this month as Lower School students took part in Book Madness, a schoolwide literacy competition inspired by the excitement of March Madness. Designed to make reading fun, engaging, and community-centered, the event encouraged students to discover new stories, share opinions, and celebrate a love of books together.
The competition began with a bracket of 16 picture books, carefully selected by GHCDS faculty members for their creativity, storytelling, humor, and connection to student interests. Over the course of the tournament, classes explored the books through read-alouds, discussions, predictions, and friendly debates about their favorites.
The excitement culminated in a special Lower School assembly held on the quad, where the final two books faced off in the championship round. Mr. Hayut delighted students with a lively reading of Skippyjon Jones Snow What, while Nurse Cooper captivated the audience with Julie and the Mango Tree. Students then cast their votes, practicing both critical thinking and decision-making skills as they reflected on the stories they enjoyed most. In the end, Skippyjon Jones Snow What claimed victory with a final vote of 55–33.
Activities like Book Madness reflect the Cambridge curriculum’s emphasis on building confident communicators, thoughtful readers, and engaged learners. Through shared reading experiences, discussion, and student choice, GHCDS students strengthen comprehension, analysis, and speaking skills while developing a lifelong appreciation for literature.
Most importantly, Book Madness reminded students that reading is not only an essential academic skill—it is also joyful, imaginative, and meant to be shared.
