Local student helps with OLA committee selected for OLA Kids Committee

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Centennial Hylands student has helped curate a summer reading list for Ontario students, after being selected to take part in the Ontario Library Association (OLA) Kids Committee. 

Brooke Allen, a sixth grader from the local elementary school, participated in a day-long virtual conference at the beginning of May, joining students from across the province to recommend and debate books to be included on the OLA Summer Reading List. 

Brooke was selected to the Silver Birch age group of the Kids Committee after submitting an application for the Forest of Reading program.

“I wanted to be a part of the committee because ever since the lockdown started, I've started to read tons of books, and I've developed a joy for reading,” Brooke tells the Free Press. “I thought it would be a good idea and I knew other kids would like my book suggestions.”

Brooke has participated in two of Centennial Hyland's Forest of Reading programs, which she says also sparked her interest in applying to partake in the Kids Committee conference. 

During the conference, Brooke was tasked with presenting three books by Canadian authors she had recently read, and explaining why they should be on the summer reading list. 

The books she presented included Unplugged by Gordon Korman, The Sun Will Come Out by Joanne Levy, and Red Fox Road by Frances Greenslade. All three were chosen to be part of the OLA summer reading list. 

“I was really happy because it seem like everyone else liked what I said about the books, that made me feel really great,” said Brooke. “You kind of go in your own world while you're reading these books, it's like you escape and all of them are positive.” 

When asked why she chose the three books to be the ones presented at the conference she said, “I found the story on the back really interesting, and I thought it would be a good choice for my age group.”

Erin Allen, Brooke's mother and a school teacher, spoke with the Free Press about seeing her daughter participate in the conference. 

“It was amazing because what I saw was my daughter, who like a lot of kids likes to be online, all of a sudden reading book after book after book. As teachers that's what we'd like to see, is that magic. I'm very proud that she read those books, that she participated in the conference, and I'm really thrilled that her books were chosen – I'm very proud of her.”  

Kristin MacDonald, is the teacher-librarian at Centennial Hylands and also runs the Forest of Reading program at the school. In a press release from the UGDSB, MacDonald noted the work Brooke put into presenting her list to the committee.

“This has been a great experience for Brooke and we are so proud of her effort and time she put into being part of this committee,” said MacDonald.

Speaking to the overall experience of the conference Brooke said, “It was really fun.”