HERKIMER — Herkimer Central School District sixth graders recently created custom “Story Spine Bookmarks” to go along with reviews they wrote on books they read.

Herkimer sixth grade English language arts teacher Cheryl Jory and Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School library media specialist Brianne Bello recently introduced sixth graders to the Pixar storytelling rule known as “The Story Spine.” Students used “The Story Spine” to help them write book reviews and they used Google Slides to create custom bookmarks.

With the help of library staff and library licensed teaching assistant Ashley Sommer, the bookmarks were then printed, laminated and will be put in the back pocket of the book that each student reviewed.

“The hope is that their fellow classmates as well as other students who come to the library will use these bookmarks as a way to find new books they would like to read based on the ‘Story Spine’ reviews,” Bello said.

On the front of the custom “Story Spine Bookmarks,” students included the book’s title and author, a quote from the book and a related image of their choice. On the back of their bookmark, they include their “Story Spine” book review, Jory said.

“Our library has some pretty incredible and talented people in Ms. Bello and Mrs. Sommer,” Jory said. “They both encourage our sixth grade students to read for pleasure as well as their experiences with great books with our school community.”