Children's Book Week in Liberty

Children’s literature ignites the imagination of youngsters and inspires them to dream. In 1913 Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian for the Boy Scouts of America, proposed creating a week-long celebration of children’s literature, Children’s Book Week. He believed in the power of books and the profound effect literature has on the lives of children. His idea took form in 1919 with the first formal commemoration and has remained an important event for children, librarians, and lovers of children’s literature. Today the Children’s Book Council oversees the national celebration. Historically, Children’s Book Week has been scheduled during the month of November. The Children’s Book Council elected to move the national celebration to May in 2008.

Many of the schools in Liberty County continue to celebrate Children’s Book Week during the month of November.

Button Gwinnett Elementary School will celebrate during the week of November 15th -19th. Students may choose to participate in the following festivities:
• Monday, November 15th: Crazy about Books at BGE! – Students and staff may wear crazy, zany socks to show their love of reading! (Students will also help decorate their classroom doors in a book theme for a door-decorating contest!)
• Tuesday, November 16th: Teaming Up to be Lifelong Readers!- Students and staff may wear a team jersey or sports/team t-shirt with their school uniform pants.
• Wednesday, November 17th: Curl Up and Read Pajama Day!- Everyone wear pajamas! Regular shoes are required, and please no gowns, “shortie” pj’s, string/spaghetti strap pj’s, only pants-style pajamas. Guest readers will be in classrooms during the day to share great stories.
• Thursday, November 18th: Hide Yourself in a Good Book! – Students and staff may wear camouflage shirts or jackets with their school uniform pants on this day.
• Friday, November 19th: Book Character Parade, 8:30am- Students and staff may dress like a favorite book character and march in the parade! Students must have the book that matches their character if they plan to be in the parade.

Frank Long Elementary School will celebrate during the week of November 15th -19th. Students may choose to participate in the following festivities:
• A special luncheon will be held for the student from each grade level that has earned the highest number of Accelerated Reader points while maintaining an average of 85% or higher on reading practice quizzes. Mrs. Judy Hellgren, FLE principal, and the teachers of the recognized students will attend the luncheon.
• A special reading challenge will be announced for the week. Classrooms reaching the goal will be invited to a popcorn party and movie.
• Monday, November 15th: Frank Long Story Land - Each classroom will decorate its door to illustrate the class’s favorite children’s book.
• Tuesday, November 16th: Crazy Sock Day: Our Students are Crazy about Books! Students may wear outrageous socks to show just how crazy they are about reading!
• Wednesday, November 17th: Read’n Lock’in and Pajama Day- Cozy up with a good book in your pajamas! Students may wear pajamas to school. Football and cheerleaders from Bradwell Institute will visit classrooms to read to students.
• Thursday, November 18th: Sunglasses Day: It is Cool to be a Good Reader!” –Students may wear sunglasses.
• Friday, November 19th: Hat Day: Hats Off to Reading! –Student may wear a hat to school.

Jordye Bacon Elementary School will celebrate during the week of November 15th-19th. Students may choose to participate in the following festivities:
• A special luncheon will be held for the student from each grade level that has earned the highest number of Accelerated Reader points while maintaining an average of 85% or higher on the reading practice quizzes. The teachers of the recognized students will attend the luncheon.
• The classroom from each grade level which earns the highest number of Accelerated Reader points and the highest practice quiz average will earn a popcorn party and movie.
• If the students at JBE can earn 750 Accelerated Reader points during the week, Dr. Johnson, JBE’s principal, and Dr. Sukaratana, JBE’s assistance principal, will read a story from the roof of the school!
• Monday, November 15th: “Mark” Your Day with a Good Book - Each student who visits the media center and checks out a book will receive one bookmark.
• Tuesday, November 16th: Team Up with a Good Book –Students and teachers may wear their favorite sports’ team attire to school.
• Wednesday, November 17th: Crazy About Books- Students may wear crazy socks to show just how CRAZY they are about reading.
• Thursday, November 18th: Hats off to Reading ~ Students may wear their favorite hat to show their love of reading.
• Friday, November 19th: Find “Peace” in Reading – Students and teachers may dress in tie-dyed clothing/retro style.

Joseph Martin Elementary School will celebrate during the week of November 15th -19th. Students may choose to participate in the following festivities:
• Monday, November 15th: Sock it to Me with a Good Book –Students make sure to wear your craziest socks to school. JME teachers will visit different classrooms to read books.
• Tuesday, November 16th: Tied up with Books –Students may wear a tie to school.
• Wednesday, November 17th: Rockers for Reading –Student may come to school dressed as a rock star. Magician, Sean Driscoll will visit to perform a reading program for students.
• Thursday, November 18th: Slip into a Good Book – Students may wear slippers to school.
• Friday, November 19th: Character Book Parade – Students bring your favorite story book and come dressed as a character from the story. Student will parade through the school in their character costumes!

Liberty Elementary School will celebrate during the week of November 15th -19th. Students may choose to participate in the following festivities:
• Families were invited to a special guest author visit November 4th as part of the annual evening Pajamboree. The author of the Snipesville Chronicles series, Dr. Annette Laing, helped students experience different aspects of Great Britain during World War II.
• Classrooms will participate in a door decorating contest. Each classroom will illustrate a different children’s book.
• Mr. Anderson, LE’s principal, will share a special story time with all of the students.
• Soldiers will visit classrooms to read to students.
• Thursday, November 18th: Reading Challenge! -Mr. Anderson has pledged that he will eat a bug if students can read 4,000 books in four days!
• Friday, November 19th: Character Book Day: -Teachers and students may dress as their favorite children’s book character! Students do not forget your favorite book!

Taylors Creek Elementary School will celebrate during the week of November 15th -19th. Students may choose to participate in the following festivities:
• Students may participate in a bookmark design contest. A winner will be selected from each grade level!
• Monday, November 15th: Character Book Day –Student may come to school dressed as their favorite book characters.
• Tuesday, November 16th: Hats Off to Reading! –Students may show their enthusiasm for reading by wearing a hat to school.
• Wednesday, November 17th: We’re Crazy for Books! –Students make sure to wear your craziest pair of socks to school.
• Thursday, November 18th: 1,000 Point Thursday - Students are challenged to read and earn 1,000 Accelerated Reader points in four days! Thursday is the last day of the challenge.
• Friday, November 19th: Gotta Keep Reading Rally! –Students will enjoy a reading rally outside with their favorite books! Dr. Rodriguez, TCE’s principal, will take to the roof of Taylors Creek Elementary to rally students as the whole school sings “Gotta Keep Reading!”


Waldo Pafford Elementary School will celebrate during the week of November 29th -December 1st. Students may choose to participate in the following festivities:
• Tuesday, November 30th: Relax and Read Day – Student may wear pajamas to school as they get cozy and read!
• Wednesday, December 1st: Guest Author Visit -Student will enjoy a visit from the author of the Yumion and Jeremiah series, Pam Alexander. Students will find several good books at the book fair! The book fair will remain open until December 10th.

Lewis Frasier Middle School will celebrate the week of November 15th -19th. Students may choose to participate in the following festivities:
• Throughout the week students will be challenged to answer children’s literature trivia questions as part of the morning announcements. Winners will be selected daily to win a free pass for ice cream.

Midway Middle School will celebrate the week of November 15th -19th by helping others! Students may choose to participate in the following festivities:
• Students are asked to donate school supplies in the media center throughout the week as part of The Mathew Freeman Project: Pens & Paper for Peace. The Mathew Freeman Project is a national not-for- profit charitable organization. Donated supplies are redistributed by the United States Military to children in war-torn areas of the world, like Afghanistan and Iraq.
• Classrooms will participate in a door decorating contest throughout the week.
• Classes will also take part in fun-filled media lessons, book talks, and media skills games in the media center throughout the week.
• Earlier in the month, sixth grade students received a special visit from children’s author Dr. Annette Laing, November 4th. Students learned about the everyday challenges and hobbies of children from Great Britain during the World War II era.

*Students participating in dress down days will be expected to adhere to the dress code requirements for dress down days.