The Big Read Lakeshore StoryProject at MADL

Your classroom is invited to partner with MADL on a writing project inspired by this year’s Big Read Lakeshore!

The Little and Middle Read books selected for 2025 are Little Read: Journey and Middle Read: A Wish in the Dark. End result? MADL will publish 3 copies of the hard cover book filled with your students’ writing and illustrations: One copy for checkout on the shelves of your MADL library branch; one copy for your school library; and one copy for your classroom library.

There are two options to participate:

1. Submit a Story
   • Your classroom writes/illustrates a collaborative story inspired by Journey or A Wish in the Dark.
   • 32 pages are required in portrait orientation (16 pages front/back, 8.5 x 11 paper).
   • 1 Cover designed/created by the class.
2. Submit a Collection of Stories/Art
   • Students contribute a piece of art, poetry, comic strip, etc. to be published as a class or school anthology inspired by Journey or A Wish in the Dark.
   • 32 pages are required in portrait orientation (16 pages front/back, 8.5 x 11 paper).
   • 1 Cover designed/created by the class.

Sign up before May 15th to be considered as a participating school or request more details by contacting Patricia Crosby (pcrosby@madl.org). Your classrooms’ acceptance into StoryProject with MADL will be announced by May 30th.

Available class visit time is limited, so request early! 

Advisory Meeting (April/May): This is a required meeting with MADL and the teacher to customize the experience for your students and to determine timeline.

Introductory Visit to Classroom (September/October): A MADL librarian will visit your classroom/group at the beginning of the project to build excitement about Big Read Lakeshore, featuring this year’s selected Little Read book, Journey and Middle Read, A Wish in the Dark. Librarians will read How This Book Was Made and explain the publishing process including classroom book.

Midway Workshop (October): After you’ve started work on your project, a librarian can visit your classroom/group to help fine-tune ideas, provide editing/revision guidance, etc.

 Student Author Celebration (November/December): MADL will throw a party for your class, students’ parents and grandparents, celebrating the completion of the books and presenting a copy to your school library.