Catherine Casselman knelt in the center of a beige rug in her brightly colored classroom at East Side Elementary.
School had already let out for the day, but about 10 second-graders sat around her with juice boxes, popcorn and books in their laps.
“When Cassie goes to Tar Beach, it feels special,” Casselman told the children, referring to a character in the book, “Tar Beach” by Faith Ringgold.
“Where is somewhere you go or somewhere that feels special to you?” she asked.
Little hands shot into the air.