Family Book Club!

Inviting families to get reading (and creating) together!

Hey OLMC! You know the family that reads together, reads forever! This year we’re launching our OLMC Family Book Club! Once a trimester, families are encouraged to read together, parents can read to kids, or the same book can be passed around! Have time in the car? Try the audiobook versions! Once everyone has read the book, join us here at the Academy for an evening of discussion, book-themed treats and family crafts! Join us for one or all three! While parents are always encouraged to independently review all non-required reading, age ratings and parent reviews are below to help inform your choices! We’ll see you in October!

We kick things off on October 26th, and things get spooky with Coraline by Neil Gaiman. In the winter, it’s the poignant story of one boy’s search for family in Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis amd on February 15th. Finally, we’ll gear up for summer with the children’s literature classic, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, (yes, it is as good as you remember it) on May 17th!

Visit bccls.org to reserve your free copy from your local Bergen County public library or purchase from your favorite independent bookseller or website! Need a copy or have questions? Contact Mr. Guerra at guerra@nullacademyolmc.org today!

Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.

- Emilie Buchwald

Family Book Club Picks

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
October 26. 6:30 p.m. Theatre.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Parents need to know that Neil Gaiman's Coraline is pretty creepy, and could be disturbing for sensitive kids: The central adventure is about a girl trying to save herself, her parents, and other trapped souls from the Other Mother in a secret world. But this is a good choice for kids who like horror stories -- and whose parents would prefer it be well-written and not too gruesome. Coraline discovers a dark world crawling with rats, spiders, strange creatures, and others spookiness -- but through her creepy adventures she also discovers her own inner bravery. 8+ years.
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
February 15. 6:30 p.m. Theatre.
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Parents need to know that Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis (The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963), won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Author Award. It's a well-crafted, funny tale of an orphan's poignant search for a home that will keep readers turning the page. Bud, a 10-year-old African American boy, runs away from his abusive foster family in Flint, Michigan, where his foster brother beat him up and his foster parents locked him up overnight in a shed, where he was stung by a nest of hornets. He embarks on a journey to find his father that leads him to Grand Rapids. Along the way, he endures fear, and there are frank descriptions of the horrors of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Written in a strong, compelling voice, Bud, Not Buddy beautifully evokes what life was like for African Americans, especially musicians, in Michigan during the Depression. 9+ years.
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
May 17. 6:30 p.m. Theatre.
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Parents need to know that E.B. White's children's classic begins with the main character (a young pig) nearly being slaughtered by a farmer. Wilbur also learns that he's to be eaten for Christmas dinner. When a major character dies, peacefully but alone -- all children (and most adults) will cry. All readers will also be reminded about what it means to be a good friend and be inspired by the book's messages about the power of love. The audiobook is lovingly read by the author. 7+ years.

Family Book Club!

Family Book Club Picks

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White