DoDEA Pacific South District launches “One Island, One Book” reading initiative across Okinawa elementary schools
Okinawa, Japan — The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Pacific South District is excited to announce the launch of a community-wide literacy initiative, One Island, One Book (OIOB), bringing together all elementary schools on Okinawa for a shared reading experience.
Beginning Monday, September 22, every elementary family will receive a copy of Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr. Over the following weeks, families are encouraged to read the book together at home. The initiative aims to foster a love of reading, strengthen family connections, and build a vibrant community of readers across the island.
“This is more than just a reading program—it’s a chance for our entire community to come together through storytelling,” said Dr. Melissa Hayes, DoDEA Pacific South District Superintendent. “We’re thrilled to see students, parents, teachers, and staff all diving into the same book and sharing the journey.”
To support families, students will bring home a reading schedule to guide nightly reading. Some schools will also feature daily trivia questions to encourage attentive listening and celebrate student engagement.
What makes OIOB unique is its inclusive approach: students from kindergarten through fifth grade will all be reading the same book. This strategy is backed by educational research, which supports reading aloud material that challenges and inspires children beyond their current reading level. The selected title is designed to captivate younger readers while stimulating older students, making it a perfect fit for the entire elementary community.
DoDEA Pacific South is proud to lead this initiative and looks forward to the conversations, creativity, and connection it will inspire.
