Sara Harp Minter Elementary Launches School-Wide Read of 'Fenway and Hattie'

There was popcorn, there was a dog, and there was a book — and at Sara Harp Minter Elementary in Fayette County, that combination was enough to kick off one of the more ambitious reading pushes the school has attempted: getting every student and every family reading the same story at the same time.

The school reportedly launched its 'One School, One Book' initiative this fall, centered on a novel told from a dog's point of view about moving and life changes. The title reportedly wasn't picked by teachers or administrators; students reportedly voted on the selection at the end of the previous school year.

To get the program off the ground, the school reportedly hosted a popcorn-themed event where students could collect their copy, eat popcorn, read the first chapter together, and meet a real dog, according to some accounts. Families reportedly received their copies thanks to the PTO.

The initiative is designed to stretch beyond the school day. Families are encouraged to read along at home and share their progress using a dedicated hashtag. In school, students are working through reading activities tied to the book. The program reportedly is set to close with a school-wide finale in which everyone reads the final chapter together.

The goal behind 'One School, One Book' programs — common in elementary schools across the country — is to build a shared reading culture that connects classrooms to kitchens, giving students and parents a reason to talk about the same story. At Minter, the student vote reportedly adds a layer of ownership: the kids picked the book they're now being asked to read.

Why it matters — By putting the same book in every student's hands — and every family's home — Minter Elementary is betting that a shared story can build reading habits that outlast a single school assignment.

Reported by thecitizen.com, fcboe.org, podcastbookpicks.com, research.lifeway.com, mprnews.org, librarything.com, crdl.usg.edu