The Summit County Library’s “I Survived” Book Club gives readers in 4th, 5th and 6th grades bragging rights for learning about historic events, participating in science experiments and art projects and eating snacks.

Each month the club reads books from New York Times Bestselling Author Lauren Tarshis’ “I Survived” series, published by Scholastic, and then meets at the Kimball Junction, Kamas Valley or Coalville branches to discuss the books and participate in book-themed activities, said Kirsten Nilsson, The Summit County Library youth services librarian.

The books cover such events as the great blizzard that covered the American Midwest in 1888, the molasses vat explosion in Boston in 1919 and D-Day in 1944, and each discussion includes a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematic) activity, according to Nilsson.

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“When we read ‘I Survived the Children’s Blizzard, 1888,’ we invited people from the Utah Avalanche Center to come do a presentation,” she said. “They made an avalanche out of flour and sand and showed the different layers that are conducive to avalanches. And for snacks we served snowflake sugar cookies.”

We wanted to reach different types of kids who, in some cases, might be reluctant readers.” Kirsten Nilsson, The Summit County Library youth services librarian

The club’s event that tied into “I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919,” included not only an historical discussion about how a storage tank containing 2.3 million gallons burst, filling the streets of Boston and killing more than 20 people, it also discussed that the molasses was stored to be distilled into ethanol, which is an important ingredient in munitions and alcoholic beverages, Nilsson said.

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“So we talked about the historical context about why they were storing a bunch of molasses,” she said. “With the experiment, we put molasses and baking soda in a plastic bottle and put a balloon over the mouth and watched the gasses blow up the balloon. And for the art, I taught the kids how to draw a wave, because of the waves of molasses that filled the streets.”

“Sometimes the experiments are just an activity of an afternoon of fun,” she said with a laugh. “When we did ‘I Survived the American Revolution,’ we just played with toy soldiers and set up a bunch of battles.”

The idea for the “I Survived” Book Club, which started last autumn, sprouted from Tarshis’ books, Nilsson said.

“We wanted to reach different types of kids who, in some cases, might be reluctant readers, and we found that these books are really popular with kids in the grades we are focusing on,” she said. “I think there are more than 20 of these books in the series, and most of the kids I know have read every one by the time they reach 6th grade.”

While the books are about actual historical events that changed the way people view earth sciences, their stories are told through fictional characters, Nilsson said.

“I wasn’t familiar with them when I first started working at the library years ago, and then a boy who happens to live across the street from me came in and said, ‘I want books that are real,'” she said. “I said, ‘Nonfiction books?’ and he said, ‘No. I want real stories.'”

After going back and forth, Nilsson realized the books the boy wanted were historical fiction.

“That’s when we found these books,” she said. “And ever since we got them, they are always checked out from the different branches.”

Nilsson discussed creating a book club that focused on these books with the library’s Kamas Valley Branch Manger Rachel Spohn and Coalville Branch Manager Susan “Murph” Murphy.

“Rachel and Murph decided we’d select our favorite historical events and divide the books up,” Nilsson said. “So, I’ve only had to create one-third of the programming. And we rotate the programs through the different branches.” 

The schedule this month is as follows:

• “I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919,” April 4 at the Coalville Branch, 82 N. 50 East 
• “I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79” April 11 at the Kimball Junction Branch, 1885 W. Ute Blvd.
• “I Survived the American Revolution, 1776,” April 17, in the Kamas Valley Branch, 110 N. Main St.

Advance registration is required, and books are available for checkout at the library, Nilsson said.

“We want people to register so we know how many treats we need to make,” she said.