One School, One Book: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

ASD Libraries invite our community to participate in a shared reading experience; One School, One Book. As a part of our visiting author celebrations in March, we encourage students, parents, teachers and staff to read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba.

William's memoir, a New York Times Bestseller and a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, is uniquely available in three formats - a picture book, middle grade novel and adult novel. William's story has inspired many as it shows how even in the face of hardship a child's idea can change the world. As a school community, we have the opportunity to share and discuss a powerful story together across all ages and to meet William in person.

When fourteen-year-old William’s Malawi village was hit by a drought, food and money were scarce. Unable to attend school, William spent days in the library, researching and dreaming of bringing electricity to his village. William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps and became a hero who harnessed the wind.

After an invitation to join TEDGlobal as a fellow, William graduated from Dartmouth College in 2014 and began work at Ideo.org. William's time at Ideo focused on Human Centered Design and sent him around the world working on projects ranging from sanitation in India to gender-based violence prevention in Kenya. He is now working with WiderNet to develop appropriate technology curriculum that will allow people to bridge the gap between "knowing" and "doing". WiderNet will distribute the content through eGranaries around Malawi and across Africa. His Moving Windmills Project uses donations to support community initiatives in Malawi.

Copies of all three versions of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind are available at ASD Libraries. Stay tuned for more information about our visiting authors program.

Celebrating Our Reading

We are always looking for ways to celebrate our students' reading. Reading is must be personal and social at the same time. We know that readers are successful when they are supported by a reading community.

Congratulations to all of our students who completed the "Reading Makes You Feel Good" Summer Reading Challenge. Around 100 students from K1 through Grade 6 completed the challenge by reading a recording a variety of books over the summer. Mr. Advento, Ms. Jones and Ms. Pollock visited classrooms to present certificates to these readers. 

Students kept track of their reading in so many creative ways! Some made lists, some drew pictures, some took photographs, some made charts. The goal was to read what makes us feel good and keep a log in a unique, personal way. Here are just a few examples of how students personalized their reading journeys:

Once again, we appreciated our students' enthusiasm around summer reading. If you have ideas or suggestions about future reading challenges, let us know! 

As we move into the school year, some of our students are using Biblionasium to keep track of the books they read and books they want to read in the future.

Our students in Grades 4 and 5 are connected and building a digital reading community in Biblionasium. In their class groups, they can make recommendations to friends, write reviews and view their classmates reading lists. 

Biblionasium now syncs with Destiny Discover to provide students with a seamless experience managing their library accounts, building books shelves and setting reading goals.

Learn more about Biblionasium in this short video: