Third grade songwriters win $1000+ worth of books for Conshohocken Elementary School library

For six years, author Hallee Adelman and Way Past Books have held a Book Song Challenge to encourage children to write original songs about their favorite books. For several of those years, young songwriters from Conshohocken Elementary have shined in the contest—and 2025 is no different.
Conshohocken Elementary third grader Rebecca Fendly's entry in the challenge told the story of book one from the graphic novel series Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi. Her song won the Storyteller Prize, which included a $250 book gift card for the school library. 

Rebecca was excited to participate in the contest. “I entered the Book Song Challenge because I love songs and dancing, and I am always creating new songs in my head based on what is around me.”

Classmate Danielle Shenkman wrote and recorded her song about the book Wild Robot by Peter Brown. “It was a really good story to tell, and that makes it really nice to write about,” she said. The song earned Danielle the Grand Prize: a $1000 book gift card for the school library and a $75 book gift card for herself. 

Rebecca liked the fact that the whole school benefits. “It is cool that Conshohocken Elementary gets money for books, because it isn't just like I get a prize, or the people who entered get prizes, but the whole entire school can get a part of the prize,” she said.

Author Hallee Adelman is a a regular visitor to Conshohocken Elementary and stopped by the school in May to see Mrs. Campbell’s class and all of the children who participated in the contest.

“When I write stories for kids, I try to put my whole heart into them, and that’s what I feel when I walk in the door at Conshohocken Elementary School,” said Ms. Adelman. “Everybody shows up to this school with their whole heart, wanting to learn, wanting to be better, and wanting to grow. So I’m way past happy to be here.”

Adelman is the author of the Great Big Feelings series of books that include titles like Way Past Mad, Way Past Worried, and Way Past Sad. At Conshohocken Elementary School, the stories are used by the school counselor to help children understand their feelings and develop ways to process big emotions.