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Book fair opens doors to reading - and dragons

The Kingdom of Reading event allows families to spend quality time together while encouraging young scholars to read more.

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE
Published December 1, 2005

HOMOSASSA - The big, green dragon did little to stem the traffic over the drawbridge in and out of the castle set up recently in Homosassa Elementary School's new library. The dragon, drawbridge and castle were made of cardboard by school volunteer Sue Taylor in keeping with the theme for the evening's activity: The Kingdom of Reading.

The school's book fair was set up with evening hours so parents could attend. They could take their children into the library with them or leave the kids in the cafeteria so they could do some secret shopping.

Children's activities, including creating and coloring coats of arms, coloring medieval bookmarks, or trying crossword puzzles and word searches, were available in the cafeteria. Media specialist Debby Kenney, dressed as a medieval queen, explained the Accelerated Reader program to interested parents.

The school tries to have activities such as this one on a regular basis. "We try to do something each month to build a connection between home and school," said assistant principal Scott Hebert. These activities, Hebert said, help parents "understand what their kids need." They also provide parent-child quality time. It's a way, Hebert said, for parents "to see school as an extension of home."

Blade Shilling, 7, a first-grader at Homosassa, came out of the book fair wit h The Polar Express and The Great Castle Search. "I like both of them," he said. He also apparently liked the book fair too. "It was great, 'cause there's awesome books," he said.

Blade's father, J. Shilling , appreciates these kinds of opportunities. "I do this every year with them," he said. "I'm always here with them."

He said coming to this event was good for parents because "it involves their children in reading. It's encouragement for them. Spending time with your kids here is better than them spending time somewhere else."

Dawn Wiesen was at the school with three of her four children: fourth-grader Brittany, 9; third-grader Andrew, Jr., 8; and second-grader Chance, 7.

Wiesen appreciated the safety of the book selection. "There's not really anything bad where reading is concerned," she said. Being there also gave her insight into what interests her children, she said.

Another benefit?

"It gets them out of the house (and) lets them know they're cared for and don't have to stay home all the time," she said.

[Last modified December 1, 2005, 01:07:16]