Nine Head O'Meadow Elementary School fourth graders completed this year's Nutmeg Challenge and enjoyed a special private lunch in the school's library on Wednesday, May 21.

The nine HOM fourth graders who completed this year's Nutmeg Challenge are: Leela Ayres, Alexa Carias, Grace Girnys, Oliver Knauf, Stella Morris, Lucas O'Driscoll, Madelyn Reef, Levi Taxiltaridis, and Sophie Young.

Based in Connecticut, the Nutmeg Book Award encourages children from grades 2-12 to "read quality literature and to choose their favorite from a list of ten nominated titles," according to the award's website.

HOM Library Media Specialist Beth Murphy said that Connecticut school librarians, teachers, and students come together every year and nominate ten books at different reading levels. One of the ten nominees win in their respective categories.

She added that the school's Nutmeg Challenge is open to all fourth grade students at Head O'Meadow, who read books nominated in the intermediate level. If a fourth graders reads any five of the ten nominees and gives Murphy a detailed summary of the book, they complete the Nutmeg Challenge.

Murphy and HOM Library Paraprofessional Alyson Smith both said they couldn't be more excited to treat the nine students to a private lunch. The pair set up a table in the library with balloons and blasted "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang once the nine students who completed the challenged came in.

Smith even baked special homemade Rice Krispie Treats for the students.

"There's only so much I can offer because of food allergies, but Rice Krispie Treats were on the safe list, so I made them extra large and mashmallowy for them," Smith said.

Students who completed the challenge also got to pick goodies from prize baskets set out during the private lunch. They could pick between different chapter books, erasers, journals, and other items for their prize. The nine students also had their name read on the school's morning announcements.

In April of every year, all of the HOM fourth graders vote, regardless of whether they have read the book or not, on which of the ten Nutmeg Book Award nominees should receive the award.

Murphy said the award is a good way to get kids to read books or genres they might not ordinarily choose in the library, like chapter books or mysteries.

For more information about the Nutmeg Book Award, visit nutmegaward.org.

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.