OSSU-wide recognition honors young readers

Craftsbury Academy students Johanna Sprout-McKay, grade 8 (left) and Gwenyth Pare, grade 6, eat a pizza lunch provided by the Craftsbury Genny in the Hazen Union Library, May 14, to celebrate their participation in the Vermont Golden Dome Book Challenge.
photo by Lisa Stinson

HARDWICK – On May 14, Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU) recognized 35 readers in fourth through eight grade from across the suprvisory union who successfully completed the Vermont Golden Dome Book Challenge.

Fifth grade students (from left) Michael Putvain, Hardwick Elementary School; Desmond Davey and Blaine Randall, Wolcott Elementary School; and Dylan Meacham, Woodbury Elementary School, participate in a book trivia contest, May 14 during a celebration at Hazen Union School for students who met the Vermont Golden Dome Book Challenge.
photo by Lisa Stinson

Students from Hardwick, Wolcott and Woodbury Elementary Schools, Craftsbury Schools, and Hazen Union School who read at least five Golden Dome titles gathered for pizza provided by the Craftsbury Genny, homemade cookies, an emoji-based puzzle based on Golden Dome book themes and a trivia competition. The OSSU librarians coordinated and led the event.

Hazen Union School student Madeline Crank, grade 8, completes an emoji-based puzzle using Golden Dome book themes, May 14.
photo by Lisa Stinson

The Vermont Golden Dome is a middle-grades children’s choice book award.

Each year, a committee of librarians and teachers selects a list of 25 outstanding children’s books as nominees. Students in grades four to eight who read at least five books from the list are eligible to vote for their favorite. The book receiving the most votes state-wide wins the Golden Dome Award for the year. A list of the 2025-2026 books is on the Vermont Department of Libraries website at libraries.vermont.gov/golden-dome-book-award…

Hardwick Elementary School students (from left) Mallory Howard, Addison Bartlett and Aubree Smith, grade 4; and Elizabeth Trejo, grade 5, participate in a book trivia contest during the Vermont Golden Dome Book Challenge celebration, May 14 at Hazen Union School.
photo by Lisa Stinson

Reader vote results highlighted the wide variety of titles OSSU students enjoyed. The winning selections at each school were: Craftsbury, 1st Place:”Murray Out of Water,” 2nd Place (four-way tie): “Force of Nature,” “Impossible Creatures,” “Hank Hooperman” and “Liars Society;” Hardwick Elementary, 1st Place: “All the Ways to Go,” 2nd Place: “Summer at Squee;” Hazen Union; 1st Place (four-way tie): “A Game of Noctis,” “Averil Offline,” “Coyote Lost and Found” and The Secret Library; Wolcott, 1st Place (two-way tie): “Sherlock Society” and “Averil Offline;” Woodbury Elementary: 1st Place: “The Sherlock Society.’