Students participate with rapt attention to author Jerry Pallotta’s presentation in a celebration of Scholastic’s new United States of Readers program at Undermountain Elementary School in Sheffield.
SHEFFIELD — Students were heading to the school cafeteria, single file and buzzing with excitement, doing their best not to run through the halls.
It wasn’t chocolate cake or pizza that awaited every student at Undermountain Regional Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon.
It was a writer.
In this case, Jerry Pallotta, whose books are hot with the elementary set. Pallotta is an award-winning author of books like “Ultimate Shark Rumble,” and the “Who Would Win” series that pits various creatures against each other.
Author Jerry Pallotta takes questions from students on stage after a presentation in a celebration of Scholastic’s new United States of Readers program at Undermountain Elementary School in Sheffield. Pallotta is an award-winning author of books like “Ultimate Shark Rumble,” and the “Who Would Win” series.
Some of Pallotta’s books teach fractions using Hershey’s chocolate bars and apple slices.
When he entered the room, the students roared, then listened raptly to his every word, ready to giggle.
Pallotta came west from from Boston to entertain this crew as part of a literacy event, “United States of Readers,” held by book publisher Scholastic and the Southern Berkshire Regional School District.
Students listening to author Jerry Pallotta at a celebration of Scholastic’s new United States of Readers program at Undermountain Elementary School in Sheffield.
The initiative in Massachusetts is supported with state funds and launched in partnership with Gov. Maura Healey’s administration. It also receives federal rural aid grant money and philanthropic donations.
Scholastic started a pilot of the program in 2021 that was funded by bestselling author James Patterson. It has now already reached 45,000 students across the U.S.
Southern Berkshire Regional School District is the only rural district in Massachusetts participating the literacy initiative.
As part of the program, every year students will get to choose and take home 10 books, and teachers will receive 25 books per year for their classroom libraries.
Scholastic’s Chief Impact Officer, Judy Newman, announces that each student will get 10 free books throughout the course of the year, as well as 25 new books for each classroom, at a celebration of Scholastic’s new United States of Readers program at Undermountain Elementary School in Sheffield. The program is funded by state and federal money as well as philanthropic donations.
The program goal is to help provide access to books for children whose families might not otherwise be able to afford them, and for those who attend rural schools.
The Southern Berkshire rural district is the only rural district out of the five in the state participating in the launch of this program for “Title 1” schools — those that receive federal aid for the high percentage of students from low-income families.
In all, around 10,000 students in all five districts have benefited. Those include schools in Quincy, Revere, Holyoke and Framingham.
Superintendent Beth Regulbuto told The Eagle she wanted to join the program to draw attention to the fate of rural schools that often don’t get enough taxpayer money through a flawed school funding formula.
“If rural aid was funded properly,” Regulbuto said, “it would take the pressure off.”
Students at Scholastic’s new United States of Readers program at Undermountain Elementary School in Sheffield on Wednesday.
“We always hope for more [money],” said Executive Office of Economic Development’s Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi, who spoke to The Eagle during the event. She said she is hopeful that the next state budget will include a boost for rural schools. She said that Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll is “committed” to this.
It is all about the “joy” of sinking into a book, Gobi told the students at the beginning of the program. Then Pallotta entertained them with the story of why he started writing and where he gets his inspiration.
Then he went on to explain why, for instance, he prefers a Komodo Dragon to the King Cobra in one of his “Who Would Win” books.
“He drools,” he said of the poisonous lizard. The students shrieked with laughter.
Students listen to author Jerry Pallotta’s presentation in the Undermountain cafeteria. Pallotta drew shrieks of laughter.
Undermountain Principal Charles Miller told the students that Pallotta was going to give them “a free book.” They went wild.
Each student received a special edition of “Who Would Win: Lobster vs. Crab.”
For State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatell, D-Lenox, who also attended, the students in this district are the ones winning.
“Getting kids excited about reading and maybe even writing their own books I think is stimulating,” he said, praising district schools and their leaders. “The fact that they’re the only rural school in the country to get this recognition speaks volumes.”
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