University Elementary Lab School created the Nene award in 1959 as an award designed by children who vote for their favorite book.

Academy students from 4 through 6 are encouraged to read from a list of 30 Nene award-nominated books with meetings in the library to discuss the books.

“The meetings are meant to be a way to help encourage the students to read the Nene award nominee books and a way to foster the love for reading,” said assistant librarian Heather Maggini-Mackay.

“Wonder” by R.J. Palacio, is the story of a boy named Auggie who has a facial deformity and recounts the struggles he faces in school.

“It’s a book that makes you laugh, cry sad and happy tears, and in the end want to stand up and cheer,” said Maggini-Mackay.

“Most of the [students] do corrections during lunch, so the amount of girls fluctuates depending on the interest in whatever book is going to be talked about. We can have a small group of three or one as large as 20. It also depends on the time of the year,” she said.

After the reading, students participated in a craft influenced by “Wonder.”

Students made paper flowers using color paper and writing positive things about themselves on each petal. The choice of colors gave each flower a sense of uniqueness and character.

“The girls seemed to like the flower activity I did. It was just for them to write a positive thing about themselves on the petals. I wanted to remind them that all flowers are unique, and they’re all special. I hope that they kept the flowers so that if they have a bad day, they can look at the flower and see all the wonderful things that make them who they are,” said Maggini-Mackay.