Children's Book Week Celebrations in Liberty County

The nation will be celebrating Children’s Book Week on May 7-13; however most of the schools in Liberty County took time out just before Thanksgiving to celebrate the importance of literature in the lives of children!

Children’s Book Week is the oldest literacy initiative in the United States, starting in 1919. The idea originated with a librarian from the Boy Scouts of America, Franklin K. Matthiews. Matthiews toured the country in 1913 promoting the idea that a week should be set aside to promote children’s literature. The cause was taken up by the American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association in 1916 as a result a Good Book Week with the Boy Scouts of America was born. This event later evolved into Children’s Book Week! The Children’s Book Council was established in 1944 and took on the responsibility of overseeing the yearly event. Originally celebrated in November, the national event was moved to May in 2008 by the Children’s Book Council.

Most Liberty County Schools continue to honor the November schedule and encourage students to participate in fun events throughout the week. During the week students enjoyed wearing crazy socks to show how crazy they are for reading. Many students wore sunglasses to show it is cool to be a reader. Students cozied up to a good book on pajama day and enjoyed guest readers. Many students even donned a hat to school to celebrate books.

Students were challenged to read throughout the week. Students at Taylors Creek read enthusiastically to earn 1000 Accelerated Reader Points during the week in order to earn a “Gotta Keep Reading Rally!” with Dr. Rodriguez and Dr. Scharnagl taking to the roof of the school to celebrate the accomplishment. Students are Frank Long read to reach individual classroom goals set for Accelerated Reader point and percentage goals for the week. Classes reaching their goals earned popcorn and a movie. Jordye Bacon elementary challenged each class to strive to earn the most Accelerated Reader points and the highest quiz average for the grade level in order to win a pizza party. Students delighted at Waldo Pafford to see Dr. Bacon and Marti Stephens get a pie in the face after reaching the school’s reading goal. Mr. Anderson, Liberty Elementary principal, challenged students to read over 4,000 books during the week. Mr. Anderson celebrated the reading accomplishment by taking a ride in Coastal Electric’s sky bucket!

Students at Button Gwinnett, Joseph Martin, and Waldo Pafford Elementary culminated the celebration with students dressing as their favorite book characters and parading through the school.

Several schools in Liberty County enjoyed author visits sponsored by the Live Oak Public Library during the week. Yvonne Moss, author of The Butterfly Princess visited Lyman Hall Elementary. Author, Doug Paul visited students at Midway Middle and Lewis Frasier Middle. Midway Middle School students in Mrs. Swinson’s class enjoyed interviewing Mr. Paul to learn about the demands and duties of a published author. Students at Waldo Pafford enjoyed meeting Nicole Harrison, author of Oscar’s Odyssey: Lost in Space. Joseph Martin students enjoyed a school sponsored visit from author Kay Heath.

One thing is certain; students in Liberty County enjoyed a variety of activities and will look back on their experience with fond memories, hopefully while reading a book!

Not Your Average Pumpkin at JBE

Pumpkins can be found in many places during the months of October and November. However, classes at Jordye Bacon Elementary transformed pumpkins into works of art to celebrate their favorite children's books!

See if you can guess the books these pumpkins are illustrating!

Bugging for Books at LE

How do you know Liberty Elementary is excited about students reading? Adults will do amazing and somewhat gross things to show they care. Mr. Chris Anderson, principal of Liberty Elementary, and Mrs. Rebbecca Mock, assistant principal of Liberty Elementary, did the unthinkable to show they support students reading. They each ate a cricket!

Not only did they eat a cricket, but so did two of the teachers on staff! Ms. Lela Stokes-Dickens and Mr. Justin Peterman also ate crickets.

Although crickets are reported to be crispy and high in protein, the little critters became snacks to celebrate the outstanding reading accomplishment of students. When challenged to read 4,000 books in three and a half days, students at Liberty Elementary met and surpassed the goal by reading a whopping 5,520 books!

Doors Decorating at MMS

During a week long celebration of children's literature, several classrooms at Midway Middle School showed

their love for reading by decorating classroom doors. Several classrooms got involved. Judges used a rubric to help score the creative displays.

TCE's Reading Rally

Students and staff filled the front lawn of Taylors Creek Elementary Friday, November 19^th for a school-wide reading rally. Every child carried a book and lined up to spell READ on the front lawn of the school. Dr. Debbie Rodriguez, principal, and Dr. Kathy Moody, assistant principal, took to the roof of Taylors Creek to lead the rally. Students and staff enjoyed listening and dancing to the song “Gotta Keep Reading.” The rally was held to celebrate students earning 1,550 Accelerated Reader points over four days. Nathan Thomas, a fifth grader, earned the highest number of Accelerated Reader points during the week by earning 27.6 points. Nathan was given a special t-shirt to mark his reading achievement.

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.

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!