Big Brother Mouse

14 March, 2013, Huaina Village, Luang Prabang Province, Laos

Book party: At book parties we read from books, play games, and sing songs. At the end of each book party, every student gets to choose a book, usually the first book they've ever owned. Then we give more to the school. Our book parties have two goals. First, we get children excited about books. (Previously, most of them had seen textbooks, but never a book they were eager to read.) Second, we observe closely, to see what books are most avidly read, what's needed, and what techniques help spread a love of reading.

This event was sponsored by Sasha Alyson. Thank you!

Choosing your very first book is a big decision. Which book do you think most children choose? (Hint: You can answer this without knowing what the books are.)

Answer: In a culture where it's important not to stand out, most kids choose whatever book the student before took. You'll see here that 3 boys sitting together, probably friends, all chose the same book. They seem happy with their choice.

But some don't make a good first choice. So after everyone has made their choice, we give them a chance to swap for a different title if they wish.

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