Hello BigSis,

It sounds like your book club has done a great job tackling many different reads this school year.  I am glad to hear that you are proud of your book club, and they definitely deserve positive reinforcement!

I remember participating in an after-school book club while in elementary school. We were reading a book about hot air balloons. At the end of the school year the sponsor of the club surprised us with a treat for our end of the year book club party: beautiful cup cakes with frosting designs of hot air balloons!  I remember being thrilled and really excited. Perhaps you can reward your book clubbers with an end of the year party treat!  

You can also plan an end of the year celebration field trip. Is there a particular book that your club read that relates to a fun and educational site in New York, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or a botanic garden?  Perhaps you can write to a non-profit or people at the site you wish to tour asking if they can sponsor your students coming for a field trip that would be at no cost for the students.

Here is a list of fun and educational sites in New York where you can take your students:
http://www.education.com/magazine/article/New_York/

You can also make your last book club meeting a field trip to Central Park.  You can have the students each pick their favorite books, and have them read aloud to other book clubbers in the park.  You can also take your students to book readings at local book stores, or plan to have an author visit a book club meeting and real aloud to the students.

Here is another fun activity you can do during a book club session:

Make a Reading Bookmark
http://www.education.com/activity/article/make_a_reading_bookmark_second/

I hope you find this information helpful. Best wishes finding a fun and meaningful way of rewarding your devoted book clubbers!

Best,

Hayley

Wow! You are doing a Fantastic job!  It seems like the interest in reading has really increased.  Have you talked to the principal of the school?  They often have great ideas.  I know that our local pizza place donated free buffet cards for an activity that we did.  For our Caldecott awards the students who read at least 25 books get their name called to go on stage and receive a certificate.  It is a very special event and parents and school staff are invited.  I hope you are able to figure out a way to continue to promote reading!  It looks like you are on the right track already :)  One other thought, have you thought about personally writing a letter to one of the authors or illustrators of a popular book among your crowd?  Good luck!