Students in Liberty County get a Glimpse into the World of a Published Author

It is not often that a child can say they meet a published author and/or illustrator. Thanks to the Live Oak Public Libraries Foundation, hundreds of children in the Liberty County School System went home from school between the dates of November 5th through November 13th to report to their parents that they did just that!



Bess Chappas, author of Kiki and the Red Shoes visited Liberty Elementary School as part of an evening Pajamboree event. Parents and students enjoyed meeting the author.

Mrs. Lisa Jahn-Clough visiting students at Bradwell Institute.

Lisa Jahn-Clough, author and illustrator of several children’s books, including Alicia Has a Bad Day; Little Dog; My Friend and I; Me, Penelope; and County Girl, City Girl, visited both Bradwell Institute and Liberty County High School. Mrs. Jahn-Clough’s visit was inspiring. Students were shown writing samples and illustrations from Mrs. Jahn-Clough’s earliest childhood works to present published books, while she explained the process of developing the craft of writing. Students had the chance to ask questions at the end of the presentation.

Elysabeth Eldering visiting students at Joseph Martin Elementary.

Elysabeth Eldering, author of The Junior Geography Detective Squad (JGDS), 50-state, mystery, trivia series, visit Joseph Martin Elementary. She quizzed students with state trivia. Ms. Eldering also read to students and challenged them to create an ending to a short story she has been writing. Students enjoyed using their imagination and learning about state geography.

Elizabeth Kane visiting students at Snelson Golden Middle School.

Elizabeth Kane, author of Br’er Deer’n de Hot Peppas, visited Snelson Golden Middle School. She discussed the Southern dialogue of her book and other books by authors such as Joel Chandler Harris before sharing her book. Students enjoyed the comical illustrations and unique dialogue.

J’miah Nabawi, storyteller/ folk artist and author of Ananse Makes It So!, visited Frank Long Elementary, Jordye Bacon Elementary, and Waldo Pafford Elementary. Students enjoyed learning about the African folktale and listening to the animated storytelling of Mr. Nabawi. Mr. Nabawi involved students in a choir reading activity and taught them a dance. The visit was fun for both students and teachers!

Taylors Creek Elementary Media Specialist, Mary Lewis, Shawn Schulte in Mrs. Lyle’s Kindergarten class, and Audilee Boyd Taylor

Audilee Boyd Taylor, author of Where Did My Feather Pillow Come From?, and contributing author of Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul: 101 Stories of Courage, Hope, and Laughter, visited Button Gwinnett Elementary, Taylors Creek Elementary, and Lyman Hall Elementary. Students enjoyed listening to Mrs. Taylor read from her book and learning where feather pillow come from. Students also enjoyed seeing original illustrations from Mrs. Taylor’s book.

Each author was unique and inspiring! Thank you Live Oak Libraries for providing this opportunity to the children of Liberty County!

Suggestions...

What would you like to see in the future for the Liberty County Media Program? Do you have any suggestions for improving the program?

Celebrating Children's Book Week in November

Looking back on the time spent with a good book and a special person brings magical memories of storytime alive. Whether a classroom teacher, school media specialist, or a family member reads, children’s book have been inspiring, teaching, and entertaining.

Since 1919, communities have been taking time out to celebrate the importance of children’s books with National Children’s Book Week. Several of the schools in Liberty County are planning special events, guest readers, contests, and reading challenges to celebrate children’s books in November!

Students at the Liberty County Pre-K Center will have fun celebrating Children’s Book Week November 16th-20th. If you have a little one at the center, make sure to mark these fun dress-up events on your calendar:
Monday, November 16th students and staff may wear crazy socks because they are “CRAZY about Reading!”
Tuesday, November 17th students and staff may wear hats because it is “Hats Off to Great Books” day.
Wednesday, November 18th students and staff may wear a team jersey or t-shirt because it is “Teaming Up to be Lifelong Readers” day.
Thursday, November 19th students and staff may wear mismatched clothes because it is “Children & Books are a Perfect Match” day.
Friday, November 20th students and staff may bring their favorite book and dress as their favorite book character to participate in the Book Character Parade. Parents are invited to attend the parade at 9:00AM.

Button Gwinnett Elementary has a week full of fun contests, reading challenges, and dress up days planned for the week of November 16th-20th.
Each classroom participates in a door decorating contest to illustrate their favorite class book.
Each student will decorate a square illustrating their favorite book. The squares will be united to for a BGE Storybook Quilt!
Students are challenged to read a total of 4,000 books in four days!
Tuesday, November 17th students will tour a beautiful display of new books available for check out very soon in the media center.
Wednesday, November 18th students will try to estimate how many books are in the BGE media center! Student will also have a chance to vote for the staff member they would like to see participate in the Amazing Tricycle Race!
Thursday, November 19th students and staff may curl up and read while wearing their pajamas. Community guest readers will visit on this day.
(Dress should follow the Liberty County Dress Policy for dress down days as listed in the Code of Conduct.)
Friday, November 20th students and staff may bring their favorite book and dress as their favorite book character to participate in the Annual Book Character Parade. The parade will begin at 8:30AM. Then students and staff will head to the gym for the Amazing Tricycle Race! The K-2nd grade race will be from 9:00AM until 9:30AM. The 3rd- 5th grade race will be from 9:30AM until 10:00AM.

Students and staff at Frank Long Elementary will celebrate Children’s Book Week November 16th -20th with a reading challenge, door decorating contest, fun dress down days, and guest readers!
Students are challenged to be the top Accelerated Reader point earner with an 85% quiz average for their grade level. The top earner, along with their teacher, will have a special lunch with Mr. Carrier on Friday!
Monday, November 16th each classroom will decorate their door to celebrate their favorite children’s book.
Tuesday, November 17th students and staff may dress as tacky as possible to prove that it’s not tacky to be a good reader!
(Dress should follow the Liberty County Dress Policy for dress down days as listed in the Code of Conduct.)
Wednesday, November 18th students and staff can wear their pajamas as part of the Read’ in Lock’ in. (Please make sure clothing meets the regulations for the county casual dress code policy.) Special community readers will visit and read to students.
Thursday, November 18th students and staff may wear camouflage because you should not have to hide your love of reading!
Friday, November 19th students and staff may wear a hat as part of “Hats Off to Reading” day. Also as part of this day, students that have meet their Accelerated Reader point and percentage goals will be attending a movie and popcorn party!

Jordye Bacon Elementary will be celebrating Children’s Book Week November 16th-20th with fun dress down days, door decorating, a special guest, and a reading challenge!
Students are JBE are challenged to earn 650 Accelerated Reader points in one week. If they reach the goal, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Sukaratana will dress up as two tacky tourists!
Monday, November 16th the hallways of JBE will transformed into scenes from favorite children’s books. Where the Wild Things Are will be the theme for one section of the campus!
Tuesday, November 17th students and staff may get lost in a good book by wearing camouflage to school.
(Dress should follow the Liberty County Dress Policy for dress down days as listed in the Code of Conduct.)
Wednesday, November 18th students and staff will show that it’s not tacky to be a good reader by dressing tacky.
(Dress should follow the Liberty County Dress Policy for dress down days as listed in the Code of Conduct.)
Thursday, November 19th students and staff will welcome Ronald McDonald at 9:00AM for a special assembly for kindergarten through 2nd grade. Community readers will be visiting classrooms at JBE.
Friday, November 20th students and staff may warm up to a good book by wearing sweat suits or warm-up suits.

Students and staff at Joseph Martin Elementary will enjoy a special guest visitor, welcome the Liberty County High School Band, listen to guest community readers, participate in fun dress down days, and parade as their favorite book characters as they celebrate Children’s Book Week!
Monday, November 16th Tommy Johns, the magician and storyteller, will entertain and inspire students to read in two sessions from 12 noon to 2:00PM.
Tuesday, November 17th students and staff may dress in a crazy manner to how they are crazy about books! Community readers will also visit classrooms to read.
(Dress should follow the Liberty County Dress Policy for dress down days as listed in the Code of Conduct.)
Wednesday, November 18th students and staff may wear a hat because it is “Hats Off to Books” day!
Thursday, November 19th students and staff may wear silly socks as part of “Sock it to me with a Good Book” day. The Liberty County High School Band will perform their Dr. Seuss inspired half-time show for students in the JME gym at 9:00AM.
Friday, November 20th students and staff will dress as their favorite storybook character for a Book Character Parade at 1:30PM.

Liberty Elementary School celebrated Children’s Book Week November 2nd-6th.
Classrooms participated in a door decorating contest for the chance to win a bag full of books to supplement their classroom library.
Wednesday, November 4th special guest readers from Target visited kindergarten and first grade students to read and make bookmarks.
Thursday, November 5th outstanding athletes from Bradwell Institute visited students in the second and third grade to read.
Friday, November 6th, the week concluded with a special evening Pajamboree for families. Local author and storyteller, Bess Chappas read her book Kiki and the Red Shoes to families. Mrs. Chappas’ visit was sponsored by the Live Oak Public Libraries Foundation as part of the Children’s Book Festival!

Taylors Creek Elementary School will celebrate Children’s Book Week November 16th- 20th with a week full of fun storybook trivia and a bookmark contest.

Students and staff at Waldo Pafford Elementary will celebrate children’s books and reading November 16th-20th with the following fun activities:
Monday, November 16th students will be challenged to read 3000 books in three days!
Tuesday, November 17th families are invited to WPE Media center in the evening to read together and take Accelerated Reader quizzes.
Wednesday, November 18th students and staff may wear pajamas to school for a day full of fun reading and completing reading related crafts and activities.
(Dress should follow the Liberty County Dress Policy for dress down days as listed in the Code of Conduct.)
Thursday, November 19th students and staff may dress as their favorite storybook character for the Book Character Parade. The parade begins at 8:30AM. If students reach their 3000 book goal, Mrs. Cottom will read a book on the roof!

The middle schools in Liberty County are also celebrating children’s books the week of November 16-20th with these fun filled contests and activities.

Lewis Frasier Middle School will be celebrating with the theme “Reading Rocks!” Each teacher and students that have an average of 85% or higher on Accelerated Reader quizzes will receive a special Patriot’s Read bookmark. Students will also be encouraged to spend additional time reading during the week.

Students and staff at Midway Middle School will be blogging about books all week on the MMS Media Center blog! Students and staff will be promoted to share their thoughts on their favorite books, movies inspired by books, characters, and reading genres! Students and staff will be donating gently used books to give the gift of reading to Gabriel’s House. Students can get crafty in the media center when they stop by the bookmark decorating station! The week will conclude with a class door decorating contest. Each classroom will decorate its door in honor of the class’s favorite middle grades book.

Snelson Golden Middle School will challenge students with a media literacy skills scavenger hunt throughout the week. Scavenger hunt winners will earn an ice cream pass! The media center will host a special half-price book fair for students and staff during the week. The week will conclude with an ice cream social and dress down day for students that have met their individual Accelerated Reader goals!

Reading is so important! A week’s work of special events, contests, and guest readers is a memorable way to celebrate children’s books. Remember to make everyday special by reading with your child!

AR the Eagle is Flying Around the World

Each year AR the Eagle takes flight around the world soaring one mile for every Accelerated Reader point earned. He has flown a total of 7,570.8 miles so far this year. Each day students are given a new clue on the morning annoucements so they can guess his location. Once a month one lucky student with a correct guess is awarded a flash drive. Currently, AR is enjoying fun and sun in Tahiti! The goal is that AR will make it back to Snelson Golden Middle School before the year is over!