Building a sense of community, one book at a time

Barbara Hertz is the information specialist at Yokosuka Middle School in Yokosuka, Japan, and the 2025 Pacific East District Teacher of the Year.

Last month, I led the Yokosuka Middle School Library Club in hosting our first-ever Secret Santa Story Swap, an event designed to spread holiday cheer and the joy of reading. This initiative aimed to encourage reading, strengthen friendships, and build a sense of community.

The free program invited fifth and sixth graders to select and dedicate a school library book for a friend or staff member. The twist? The book and the identity of the “Santa” would remain a secret until the big reveal!

The idea for the Secret Santa Story Swap was inspired by a successful program the club ran in February 2024 called Mystery Valentine, where over 240 books were dedicated to recipients. The members wanted to create a similar experience specifically for fifth and sixth grade students.

Organizing the event

Yokosuka Middle School Library Club members promoted the event through Google Classrooms, school announcements, and colorful posters. 

To participate, students used the Destiny Discover library catalog to choose their top two book preferences and entered their choices in a Google Form along with the recipient’s name. Some students opted to have Library Club members pick the perfect book on their behalf by providing a description of their friend’s personality, likes, and dislikes. Then, students wrote a message to their recipient.

I shared examples of meaningful messages versus simplistic ones. As a result, most books came with a heartfelt personal message written by the Secret Santa, which was printed on a card and tucked inside the pages.

A few days before the Secret Santa Story Swap, I sent an email to the recipients, announcing that they were about to receive a library reading gift from a Secret Santa.

Library Club members worked hard to bring this program to life. They pulled books from the shelves, printed and folded cards, and organized the books by recipients’ last names. For “Santas” who entrusted the Library Club to select the ideal book, the team relied on their extensive reading experience to make meaningful matches.

“This was the greatest challenge: matching a book to the description they wrote about their friend,” said Sadie Miwa, eighth grade student and the Library Club president. “It’s lucky that we all read a lot, so we were able to come up with some good choices.”

The big reveal and impact

On the day of the Secret Santa Story Swap, recipients gathered in the library to receive their "gifts." Inside each book was a card revealing the identity of their Secret Santa. Over 100 students and nine teachers were surprised with these literary gifts.

The program’s impact went beyond just gifting books. One fifth grader received a book from a friend who had moved away a week earlier. The card read, “I’m already gone when you get this. I miss you. Please read this book and email me about it so we can talk about it.”

A Japanese custodian even received a book, resulting in a kind email from her company stating that she was moved to have been included.

Many of the personal messages hidden inside the book were detailed and sweet:

• “Thank you for being my first friend at this school. You asked me to sit with you in the cafeteria and helped me in class. I think you will like this book because you are a kind person.”
   
• “Thank you for making me feel welcome in your class. I wish I could stay the full year. I’ve had a blast with the classmates, fun projects, and funny moments. I’m happy you are my teacher. I hope I see you in the future.”
   
• “I want you to remember me forever. No matter where I am, we will always be friends. Our friendship is unbreakable! Now read this book and prepare to be amazed!”
   
• “The main character in this book reminds me of me. If you read it, you might understand me better.”

These messages showcased the power of words to uplift, connect, and build community. For Library Club members, the program gave them a sense of pride in making a meaningful contribution to their school. Ultimately, connections were formed, friendships deepened, and some great books found new readers.

This literacy program aligns with information center standards by encouraging students to share meaningful books and nurture a passion for reading, while also emphasizing the crucial role of information center specialists in advancing literacy and education.

I invite other DoDEA schools and classrooms to join the fun and host a similar event — whether you choose a Mystery Valentine theme, inspired by our inaugural program at Yokosuka Middle, or a general Mystery Reader theme, it's a fantastic way to engage students and build community anytime during the school year.