On April 21, Head O’ Meadow School students had an opportunity to cast colorful ballots in an annual “Vote for Books” event.

Librarian Beth Murphy explained it was a Head O’ Meadow tradition, carried out when it comes time to order new books each year.

There were two categories from which to select: purple or yellow. Students were provided with a sheet of paper to bring home including the covers of the 30-book collections and allowed time to contemplate their choice.

Despite how it sounds, students weren’t simply judging books by their covers. The color-labeled packages distinguished themselves from each other by themes the books have in common, allowing students to choose what books they’d like to see in the library based on content preferences.

During lunch waves, classes of students visited the lobby area in front of the open library to carry out their civic duty side-by-side, with their choice protected by kid-sized dividers.

Kindergartners in Lisa Dievert’s class, who may not have even taken a scan-in standardized test yet, listened attentively to Murphy as she explained how to bubble in their selection.

The young students seemed eager to get bubbling. As an added element of fun and credibility, the Registrar of Voters provided a voting machine for kids to line up and slip their own votes in when they are finished. As a reward for voting, each student received a sticker and a bookmark.

Concurrently, in the adult world, the town referendum was scheduled for a vote the following week. This is by no coincidence according to Murphy, who told The Newtown Bee the school holds the event every year at this time to remind parents and caregivers to cast their own votes. This reminder was included on the Purple vs Yellow flyer that went home with students.

The purple package won school-wide, which included the categories “What’s Next?”, “Duos,” and “Emotions and Feelings” that trumped the yellow package of “Can You Believe It?”, “New Friends,” and “Sports Reboot” books. Murphy told The Newtown Bee the books were ordered and “are being checked out frequently.”

Reporter Noelle Veillette can be reached at noelle@thebee.com.