JAMESTOWN, N.Y. –  Approximately 2,500 Jamestown Public Schools elementary students and middle school students at Jefferson Middle School will bring home a copy of James and the Giant Peach and begin reading it with their families and classes on Monday, May 11.

For the fifth straight year, JPS will take part in a unique, national family literacy program called One District, One Book, made possible by the non-profit Read to Them. The initiative is designed to strengthen the educational connection between home and school by having families across the district read the same book at the same time.

Staff and families from all five JPS elementary schools and the fifth grade team at Jefferson Middle School helped select James and the Giant Peach, the beloved novel by Roald Dahl that follows young James as he embarks on a magical journey inside an enormous peach alongside a cast of unforgettable insect friends. Each school nominated titles that were available in both English and Spanish, and all staff and families then voted from the list of finalists.

“One of the most valuable gifts families can give is spending time reading together,” said Kate Benson, Principal of C.V. Bush Elementary School. “Reading out loud enhances fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, while also strengthening bonds, building confidence, and supporting social-emotional growth. Our schools and community come together through this annual program as we share one book and connect its themes to meaningful outreach. James and the Giant Peach invites students to explore imagination, resilience, and the power of friendship — and we look forward to the learning and connections that will grow as we take this journey together.”

In school, students will experience dynamic assemblies, answer trivia questions, and engage in creative extension activities centered around the book’s themes of kindness, imagination, and integrity.

Schools are also planning a variety of different outreach opportunities to support children in foster care around Chautauqua County. Information on how to contribute will be made available by each school 

A reading schedule will be provided to students ahead of May 11. Recordings by special guest readers will be made available on the Jamestown Public Schools Facebook page throughout the month.