BENTONVILLE — Nine-year-old Kaylan Lithalangsy cut out paper dolls during art class at Central Park Elementary School on Monday.
The paper dolls project stems from the book "The Doll People" by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin. All Bentonville School District kindergarten through fourth-grade students are reading the book as a part of the One District, One Book program. Bentonville has more than 5,700 students in kindergarten through fourth grade.
AT A GLANCE
One District, One Book
One District, One Book is a program promoted by the nonprofit organization Read To Them. The organization advocates reading to a child for 15 minutes out of the day. For more information about the program or organization visit readtothem.org.
Source: Read To Them
The program, which started last month, is meant to strengthen family bonds through reading, said Kim Foerster, a fourth-grade teacher at Central Park. The book is supposed to be read at home by parents.
"It builds moments and gives parents an opportunity to interact with their children while enjoying quality literature," Foerster said. "When parents read to their children it shows they enjoy reading."
The program also helps the community bond over a book, Foerster said.
"Everyone who has an elementary child has the opportunity to participate," Foerster said. She said parents are able to discuss the book with other parents.
The "The Doll People" is a fantasy that examines the lives of dolls that come to life when humans are not around.
"It is a great book and a fun book to read," Foerster said. "It has a lot of adventure and spiders for the boys."
Kaylan said the book is her favorite.
"I like mysteries and when I was young I used to play with dolls, so I relate," Kaylan said.
Kaylan's friend Jacqueline Vang, 9, said she also likes the book.
"They meet new dolls and have an adventurous time," Jacqueline said.
Art teacher Mitch Terry said the students had fun making cutout dolls Monday.
"It is funny how simply cutting these paper dolls can be exciting," Terry said. "It is something you see, but don't know how to do."
Terry said the paper dolls are the beginning of a long-term art project that includes decorating a 6-foot replica dollhouse of the one illustrated in the book.
"We are going to make wallpaper, flooring and furniture for the house," Terry said. "We are going to attempt to make it as similar to the illustrations in the book as possible."
Foerster said the project shows students reading cross-connects to other subjects. She said the book also is being integrated into other subjects such as writing, science and math.
Central Park Principal Galen Havner said the project is a way to promote reading throughout the community.
"Parents are finding out how fun reading with their kids can be," Havner said. "This year, one parent said it was a lifesaver during the snow days."