Hart’s Book Club

Just like an English or composition class, a remarkable theatre program inspires students to read and analyze their scripts, immersing themselves in the captivating worlds their characters inhabit. Beyond enhancing reading comprehension, theatre nurtures essential critical thinking and analytical skills that empower students to express themselves creatively.

Below is our monthly list and descriptions for Hart’s Book Club! Each month, we have four meetings where we chat about what we’ve learned, participate in fun book-related activities and crafts, and enjoy some tasty snacks. Don’t worry—your child will read the book on their own time, and there will never be any pressure to read aloud during our meetings. Plus, we wrap up each final meeting with a cozy movie night!

Joining is easy! The cost is just $40 a month, which includes all supplies, the book, and snacks. Your child can join us at any point throughout the year. We can’t wait to read with you!

January

  •  "The Adventures of Pinocchio. Story of a Puppet"), commonly shortened to Pinocchio, is an 1883 children's fantasy novel by Italian author Carlo Collodi. It is about the mischievous adventures of an animated marionette named Pinocchio. He faces many perils and temptations, meets characters who teach him about life, and learns goodness before he achieves his heart's desire to become a real boy.

February

March

  • The Giver is a 1993 young adult dystopian novel written by American author Lois Lowry and is set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. In the novel, the society has taken away pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan that has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. In an effort to preserve order, the society has a true sense of equality and lacks any color, climate, or terrain. The protagonist of the story, a 12-year-old boy named Jonas, is selected to inherit the position of Receiver of Memory, the person who stores all the memories of the time before Sameness. Jonas struggles with concepts of the new emotions and things introduced to him, and whether they are inherently good, evil, or in between, and whether it is possible to have one without the other.

April

May

  • "How to Train Your Dragon" is a bestselling book series written and illustrated by Cressida Cowell. The series follows the adventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, a young Viking who befriends dragons and learns to train them. The first book introduces readers to Hiccup's challenges and growth as he navigates his role as the heir to the Hairy Hooligan tribe. 

June

July

  • Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction — Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

August

  • Charlotte's Web is a book of children's literature by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams. It was published on October 15, 1952, by Harper & Brothers. It tells the story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered, Charlotte writes messages in her web praising him, such as "Some Pig", "Terrific", "Radiant", and "Humble", to persuade the farmer to spare his life.

    The book is considered a classic of children's literature, enjoyed by readers of all ages.[1] The description of the experience of swinging on a rope swing at the farm is an often-cited example of rhythm in writing, as the pace of the sentences reflects the motion of the swing. In 2000, Publishers Weekly listed the book as the best-selling children's paperback of all time.

September

  • When the two girls meet at a summer camp and discover the secret behind their similarity, they decide to switch places. Everyone is fooled (apart from the dog) and, despite a few mistakes and misadventures, everything goes to plan for Luise as Lottie and Lottie as Luise - until their father meets a young, beautiful woman and things start to unravel...

October

  • The story follows James Henry Trotter, a young boy who, after the tragic death of his parents, is forced to live with his cruel aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. His life is miserable until he encounters a mysterious man who gives him magical green crystals. When James accidentally spills the crystals near a barren peach tree, a gigantic peach begins to grow. Eventually, James discovers a way inside the peach, where he meets seven extraordinary insects: a Ladybug, a Centipede, a Spider, a Grasshopper, a Glowworm, and a Silkworm. Together, they embark on a fantastical journey across the ocean, facing various challenges and adventures along the way, ultimately leading to a new life in New York City.

November

  • The Iron Giant is a contemporary classic by Ted Hughes, first published in 1968. The story follows a mysterious iron giant that saves the world by leading a young boy named Hogarth to safety from a space-bat. The tale is a powerful tribute to peace and humanity, addressing themes of fear and compassion. It has been adapted into a popular animated film in 1999, directed by Brad Bird, which further popularized the story. Ted Hughes, a renowned poet and novelist, was born in 1930 and became a significant figure in English literature, known for his unique style and impactful works.

December

  • Charlie Bucket is a kind and loving boy who lives in poverty with his parents and grandparents in a town which is home to the world-famous Wonka's Chocolate Factory. One day, Charlie's bedridden Grandpa Joe tells him about Willy Wonka, the factory's eccentric owner, and all of his fantastical candies. Rival chocolatiers sent in spies to steal Wonka's recipes, forcing him to close the factory and disappear. Wonka reopened the factory years later, but the gates remain locked, and nobody knows who is providing the factory with its workforce because no people are seen going out or coming in.