By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Student readers at Geneseo Middle School have selected the Kate O’Shaughnessy novel “Lasagna Means I Love You” for the 15th On the Same Page Community-Wide Read.
“Lasagna Means I Love You” focuses on a little girl named Mo who ends up in foster care following the death of her grandmother. Mo teaches herself to cook and begins collecting family recipes as she adjusts to her new situation.
Volunteer sixth, seventh, and eighth grade readers select the OSP book each year.
Geneseo Middle School sixth grader Hadley Wyffels shows a copy of “Lasagna Means I Love You, the 15th On the Same Page Community-Wide Read selection.
According to Jeanne Brucher, Geneseo Middle School Librarian, said, “This is a student-led project. Each spring we start with about 20 books, and it takes the student readers until October to narrow to their final selection.”
As a result of the support from the Geneseo Education Foundation, Geneseo Kiwanis, and the GMS Library; there is no cost to participate in the program. Copies of the novel will be available in various locations in the community for community members to take, read, and pass along. Copies may also be picked up at the school office.
Each year, students plan a culminating event to tie to the book. Inspired by the recipes in “Lasagna Means I Love you,” readers are encouraged to participate in two ways. First, GMS students are collecting favorite family recipes for an online cookbook. To see recipes or add you own, click on: https://sites.google.com/geneseoschools.org/gms-osp-fav-fam-recipes/home. OSP will also host a Family Favorites Potluck at GMS from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, at the Geneseo Middle School. Families are invited to bring a favorite food item to share. The Book Fair also will be open that evening.
For more information about the On the Same Page Program and to watch the student-produced book talk video, visit https://gcsdblogs.org/onthesamepage, or contact program coordinator Brucher at GMS, 309-945-0599.
Links:
On the Same Page Website https://gcsdblogs.org/onthesamepage GMS 2025 OSP Book Talk Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGbOxkMv1nE