Students work to make their own flying Cardinal.
At Hometown Elementary, the library is more than just a place to check out books—it’s a vibrant space where curiosity is sparked, imagination is encouraged, and a love of reading is nurtured. Under the leadership of Mrs. Lazinek, our school library has become a welcoming and exciting environment where students are always eager to learn and explore.
Each week, students visit the library with their class, and Mrs. Lazinek makes every visit engaging and meaningful. She begins by reading aloud a carefully chosen book that connects to classroom themes, character education, or current events. These stories open the door to important conversations about kindness, perseverance, and diversity, helping students grow not only as readers but as thoughtful, empathetic individuals.
After story time, students have the opportunity to browse the shelves, discover new books, and check out titles that interest them. Mrs. Lazinek is always ready with a recommendation, guiding students to find books that match their reading level and spark their interests. Whether a child loves fantasy, graphic novels, nonfiction, or picture books, there’s something for everyone in our library.
Most recently, our third-graders were introduced to one of Mrs. Lazinek's favorite winter stories: Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares. This is a heartfelt picture book about a red cardinal named Red and his mate, Lulu. When Lulu disappears after their tree is cut down for a Christmas tree in New York City, Red searches for her throughout the snowy city. With help from kind people, Red is reunited with Lulu, and together they find a new home—sharing a story of love, hope, and the kindness of others. After the students listened to this wonderful story, Mrs. Lazinek helped each student create their own Lulu with origami and straws. Mrs. Lazinek loves to incorporate her love of Origami into her class. She believes that Origami is important for kids because it supports learning, creativity, and social-emotional growth in many simple, hands-on ways. This skill helps build fine motor skills. Folding paper carefully helps children strengthen hand muscles and improve coordination, which supports handwriting and everyday tasks. It also develops math and spatial thinking. Kids practice concepts like halves, quarters, symmetry, fractions, and follow multistep directions—skills that connect directly to elementary math. She has found that Origami also encourages focus and perseverance. Children learn to slow down, pay attention, and keep trying when a fold doesn’t turn out perfectly. After making their cardinals, it was time to take flight!! Students took their birds and flew them around the library. Giggles and laughter filled the library as students competed to see which bird would fly the longest distance.
As one student shared, “Library day is my favorite—I always find a new book I love, and I learn something new every time Mrs. Lazinek reads to us!”
We’re so grateful for the creativity, dedication, and passion that Mrs. Lazinek brings to our library. Thanks to her, the library is truly the heart of Hometown Elementary.