40 Book Challenge – Jordan Road Elementary School sixth graders take the challenge to read 40 books this school year. Teacher Phillip Pallitto was inspired by the “Book Whisperer” written by a teacher in Texas who uses the challenge to inspire her middle school students to read. Mr. Pallitto says the key is letting the students select their own books. And for those who are having a hard time finding a book that they like, other students make recommendations. Last year Phil’s class read over 2,000 books.