Cover to Cover!

A Book Club for Grades 2-3

Cover to Cover is a NEW monthly reading, discussion & activity group for students in grades 2-3. This month we'll discuss Stuart Gibbs' hilarious adventure story "Once Upon a Tim."

Tim is just an ordinary peasant kid in the kingdom of Merryland, but he always tries to do the right thing and dreams of escaping his peasant life to become a heroic knight. Find out what happens when he gets the opportunity to put his courage and determination to the test and try to rescue a princess in Stuart Gibbs' very funny version of traditional medieval fairy tales, in which stereotypes are often turned around and nothing turns out quite like anyone expected! "Once Upon a Tim" is a former nominee for the Maryland Association of School Libraries' Black-Eyed Susan award for best children's novel, and author Stuart Gibbs is enormously popular for his "Spy Kids" series and other off-beat stories of people and animals in unexpected, often hilarious situations!

You can borrow a copy of “Once Upon a Tim” by Stuart Gibbs--along with a specially prepared reading guide for our group--from the Connie Morella Library; just ask at either the Circulation Desk or Information Desk for the book for the January meeting of Cover to Cover! The book is also available as an e-audiobook on Hoopla, one of the library's free subscription apps (it is not currently available as an ebook, or on Libby/Overdrive in any format). If you use an electronic version, please contact librarian Jeff Coster (Jeffrey.Coster@montgomerycountymd.gov) to request a copy of the reading guide. He can also be contacted with any questions about the program and participant eligibility.

Cover to Cover is a brand-new monthly reading, discussion, and activity group created for students in 2nd and 3rd grade. Each month, we will read a different chapter book that you can check out ahead of time from the Connie Morella Library (or read or listen to on one of our free e-book apps, if available), along with a specially prepared reading guide to help you get ready for the group's next meeting. At each session, we'll have an icebreaker activity and discuss the plot, characters, topics, settings, and themes of the book in a variety of different ways, from traditional question-and-answer discussion to role plays, think-pair-share, fishbowl, and more to encourage fun interaction among the participants. Then we'll finish with an activity related to the book--for example, a small art or craft project or interactive game--to reinforce the main themes or topics. Books will be chosen from among a variety of genres--adventure, humor, realistic fiction, science-fiction, fantasy, mystery--with a range of diverse characters in a variety of different cultural backgrounds and life circumstances. Many of the books used will be from lists of nominees at the appropriate age-level for honors such as the Maryland Association of School Libraries’ Black-Eyed Susan Award and the Maryland Library Association’s Youth Services Division’s Blue Crab Young Reader Award. This program is designed to support students transitioning from beginning readers and simple chapter books into the next challenge of longer chapter books with more complex vocabulary, different writing styles, and fewer pictures, but all materials chosen for use will be in the general on-level range for ages 7 to 9. 

Library Program Attendance (both virtual and in the branch) is limited to participants within the suggested age range of the program. Children attending an MCPL program under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Adults attending a program intended for children must have an accompanying child.

Questions about this program? Contact the Connie Morella Library at 240-777-0970 or librarian Jeff Coster at jeffrey.coster@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Don't have a library card?  Find out how to Get a Library Card.

Accommodation Requests

People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing should request English-language captioning or sign-language interpretation at least five days before the library-sponsored program they plan to attend. Contact the Assistant Facilities and Accessibility Program Manager at 240-777-0002 with all other accommodation requests.

Upcoming Events