As spring unfolded in all its brightness, the Hongkou Campus welcomed its annual Reading Wonderland Month. This four-week celebration of reading built bridges between classroom and daily life, between reality and imagination, through an innovative model of home-school collaboration. From classic recitations to creative performances, from book exchanges to reading reflections, a series of carefully designed activities brought a variety of literary genres-fairy tales, folk stories, biographies, natural sciences-to life like blooming spring flowers, planting the seeds of lifelong reading in children's hearts.

Bookish Tea Party: Savoring the Beauty of Literature

Reading Wonderland Month began under the warm spring sun as teachers and students of Hongkou Campus dressed in elegant attire and stepped into a literary celebration like no other. A uniquely themed Tea Party marked the start of this month-long reading journey. As the first large-scale themed event, six carefully curated reading stations were set up on site, each representing a different literary genre. Each station featured selected books and reading cards, allowing students to choose freely, record their thoughts, and then rotate to the next station to experience the charm of a new genre.  

In the refreshment area, exquisite snacks and drinks added a cozy atmosphere to the literary feast. Parent volunteers actively participated—some sorted books, some guided students in selecting titles, and others helped serve refreshments. Their dedication brought warmth to the event. This activity perfectly combined reading with the leisure of a tea break, allowing students to enjoy the “flavor of reading” while nurturing their literary interest in a joyful environment.

Guided by Teachers, Journeying Through Stories

During Reading Wonderland Month, the Read Aloud on Wednesdays transformed into a much-anticipated “magical story moment.” Each week, a different teacher took on the role of “Story Wizard,” bringing engaging stories of various genres into the classroom: heartwarming fairy tales, thought-provoking folk tales, imaginative fiction, and inspiring biographies.  

With expressive voices and props in hand, teachers captivated their young audiences. The students listened intently and responded eagerly. From the warmth and kindness in The Smartest Giant in Town to the delightful fable of Tiddalick the Frog, morning reading sessions became magical moments brimming with inspiration.

Home and School, Building a Reading Home Together

A special feature of Reading Wonderland Month was Family Reading Night, which encouraged parents and children to share a book together. A desk lamp, two cups of hot drinks, snuggled silhouettes, and the soft sound of turning pages—parents and children exchanged thoughts, sharing highlights and insights from their readings.  

Some families delved into philosophical reflections while reading How Do You Live?, while others laughed together over passages from The One and Only Ivan. These book-scented evenings became precious pieces in the puzzle of parent-child memories.

Storytelling Contest: A Celebration of Creativity

Twelve “Story Stars” took the stage, lighting up the room with creativity and enthusiasm. One transformed into Nezha, vividly performing the legendary tale Nezha Conquers the Dragon King with a Fire-tipped Spear in hand. Another played Willy Wonka, leading the audience through space with wit and courage. One crafted a prop called the “Chair Tree” and shared the joy of friendship, while another mimicked Mr. Fox’s tone to show how creativity can emerge from ordinary things.  

The captivated audience of young listeners filled out evaluation forms with care, learning to appreciate stories through multiple lenses—expression, creativity, and delivery. After an exciting round of performances, four major awards were presented, including “Best Storyteller Award” and “Most Creative Story Award” concluding the unique storytelling event on a high note.  

This event provided a stage for children to showcase their talents and also nurtured their literary appreciation and creative thinking through interactive experiences, breathing new life into classic tales.

Book Sharing: Spreading the Joy of Reading

At the Book Swap held during Reading Wonderland Month, a unique “book drifting adventure” took place. Children wandered the stalls like treasure hunters, holding beloved old books in search of new story companions. Detective Fox might cross paths with The Monster in the Forbidden City, and The Little Prince might encounter The Straw House—each book found new life through exchange. Seeing the childlike signatures on the inside covers of these books felt like witnessing the continuation of reading friendships. Beyond trading books, the children shared in the joy of reading.

Meanwhile, in the Best Book Recommendation activity, students became book ambassadors, recommending their favorite titles to classmates and explaining the ideal reading setting: “The Bed That Walks is perfect for quiet nights—close your eyes and you can almost hear the fairy tales tiptoeing by your pillow!” Through mutual sharing and inspiration, more great books found their way into each other’s lives.

Costume Parade: Living the Story

The grand finale, Book Character Day, brought the atmosphere to a peak: Harry Potter waved his wand down the hallway, Belle’s skirt brushed the stairway corner, Pinocchio and The Little Match Girl had a chance encounter... The campus transformed into a pop-up storybook, with every frame vividly expressing the students’ love for literature.

Reading Logs: Tracing the Path of Growth

For this year’s Reading Wonderland Month, Hongkou Campus specially designed a reading log to guide students on their literary journey. The log prompted students to systematically record details like book titles, authors, genres, reading time, and self-ratings—all at a glance.  

Through this process, students could clearly see their own reading achievements and experience their growth over time. Each entry became a reflection on reading, deepening their love and commitment to it.

In this vibrant Reading Wonderland Month, Hongkou Campus kicked off with a Tea Party and opened gateways to the world of literature through diverse reading activities. As the fragrance of reading permeated the campus, what we witnessed was not only the students’ present growth, but also a future rich in the beauty of books.

Written by Nina Kang

Proofread by Judah Kuhn

Pictures by Elaine Zhu

Video by Rachel Wu and parent volunteers