Throughout March, Hillside students celebrated reading with a March Madness bracket-style tournament. Weekly votes determined the school’s favorite book. 

“Students made predictions and engaged in book talks and book reviews to practice sharing their opinions,” said Hillside Librarian Katie Melly. “This year, the tournament focused on recently published children's literature as a way to highlight new authors and award-winning books.” 

A tally of student votes at the end of the month revealed the 2023 March Madness Winner: Knight Owl by Christopher Denise. 

Knight Owl is a story of a brave little owl who takes the Knight shift to defend the castle.