Fourth graders in Robin Ambrosi’s class at Lakeview Elementary School recently stepped into their classroom and found it transformed into a cozy café for a special reading event called “Starbooks Café.” When students arrived, they were greeted by green-and-white decorations, the aroma of hot cocoa, several fun books to read and a table filled with donuts, the perfect setting for a morning of reading and fun.
“The students had an absolute blast,” Ambrosi said. “They loved getting to ‘taste’ so many different books and talk about which ones they’d like to read next. It was such a fun way to build excitement around reading, and the hot cocoa didn’t hurt either!”
As part of the “book tasting,” students sampled excerpts from a variety of books, including “Fantastic Mr. Fox” by Roald Dahl and “Fourth Grade Rats” by Jerry Spinelli. The activity served as a creative and engaging way to introduce their next reading unit and spark excitement for exploring new stories.
Adding to the experience, Principal Elizabeth Blessing stopped by the café to give students a taste of E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web.” The class enjoyed her reading so much that several students asked her to keep going.
To complete the authentic café atmosphere, Ms. Ambrosi served hot cocoa in café cups and gave each student a playful “barista name” as she took their orders.
The Starbooks Café event was a hit with students, blending creativity, literacy and a touch of fun to remind students that reading can be a truly sweet experience.
