Children's Book Week

This week is National Children's Book week. To celebrate at school, teachers and students could dress up as a character from a classic children's book or story. Jake almost made the newspaper! The reporter interviewed him and took his picture...but probably because he is famous from TV, they didn't want to overload the star =). Below is the article from our local newspaper, a picture of Jake we took here in his costume, and a picture of his principle dressed up. Enjoy!

www.cbcbooks.org

Characters mark National Book Week

By JULIE A. VARUGHESE Norwich Bulletin

GRISWOLD -- Lydia* has ladybug clothes, a ladybug bathing suit and about 100 ladybug books, according to her mother, Holly.

So, it was only natural Thursday she would want to dress up as her favorite character from Eric Carle's "The Grouchy Ladybug" for National Children's Book Week.

This week, Nov. 13-19, is dedicated to the written word, and Griswold Elementary School students and staff Thursday suited up as their favorite children's book characters to celebrate.

National Children's Book Week began in 1919, when Boy Scouts of America librarian Franklin Mathiews presented the idea to the American Booksellers Association. The Children's Book Council, established by the association, has administered the week since 1944.

Thursday in Griswold, School librarian Judy Beahan, dressed as the Grinch from Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," said she hoped to encourage students to read classic children's literature as opposed to comic books.

"I think it's more magical," she said, noting the classics recently have had to compete with high-tech forms of entertainment.

Teachers from some grades decided to dress up in themes. Fifth-grade teachers dressed as characters from 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," kindergarten teachers dressed up as "Mother Goose" characters and preschool teachers dressed as "Three Little Pigs."

Holly Santiago liked the fact students got to dress up for one day as their favorite book character.

"It's great. They can express themselves," she said.

Third-grader Joyce* converted her "Blue Diva" costume into a fairy costume by adding wings.

She said she got the idea from "Winx Club," a series of books about modern-day fairies written by different authors.

"I always wanted to be a superhero," Joyce* said.

Her friend, third-grader Tameeka*, came dressed as "Angelica" from "Rugrats" books based on the television cartoon.

"I like her because she's mean," Tameeka* said.