How to Celebrate Children's Book Week
Children's Book Week occurs in the beginning of May. In the past, it was held every November. Despite this fact, Children's Book Week remains a week devoted to the celebration of children's books. Since 1919, librarians, teachers, and booksellers have planned festivals and special events to encourage children to read books. You can join in the effort by celebrating Children's Book Week at your school. Foster a love of literacy within your students by planning exciting events to pay homage to the wonderful world of children's books.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
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Invite local celebrities to visit your school and read to kids. Potential celebrity readers can include local members of Congress, news reporters, local business people, and performing artists in the community.
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Ask kids to dress up as their favorite book characters. Have a contest to choose the best costume and give the winner a gift certificate to a local bookstore. Get permission from the principal to have a storybook character parade down the main hallway of the school.
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Hold a book trivia contest. Each morning on the morning announcements, ask a basic question about a particular well-known books. For example, the trivia question for Monday can be, "Who is the author of the Clifford the Big Red Dog?" After announcements, a representative from each classroom can bring the answer slips to the library. Sort the correct answers from the incorrect. Pull a winner from the pile of correct answers. The winner gets a bookmark, a pencil, or a paperback book.
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Each day, plan a DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) hour. At this time, the entire school should stop whatever they are doing and read a favorite book for about thirty minutes to an hour. Teachers can let students lounge about on the floor or sit in bean bag chairs as they read.
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Hold a short story contest. Students can choose to participate in the contest by writing and illustrating a story. Outside judges can be chosen to read the stories and declare a first, second, and third place winner. The winner gets a gift certificate to a local bookstore.
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Tips & Warnings
If possible, plan your Children's Book Week events a couple of months in advance.
Solicit prize donations from local businesses and bookstores.
Plan a Family Reading Night where the entire family can enjoy an evening of good books and tasty refreshments.
