Reading Saves The Day! Jeffrey Book Fair Is All About Heroes

One of the largest Scholastic Book Fairs in the state is right here in Madison, at the Jeffrey Elementary School. Running through Friday evening, the book fair has been a tradition for many years.

The book fair has been run by the inimitable Joan Walker, a parent volunteer, for seven years. There are shelves and tables stocked up with books for the preschool set through the middle-school reader, as well as books for grown-ups. And no book fair shopping adventure  is complete without a visit to the tchotchke table, which includes items like a chocolate-scented, solar-powered calculator, bug-eyed pens, or the ubiquitous finger pointers.  It's all good fun and reading at the Jeffrey Book Fair. The Jeffrey Book Fair welcomes shoppers from the community and is a perfect source for holiday gifts.

Each night features a different family event that highlights leaders and mentors in the community.  Mona Goodman and Rachel Weiss, principal and vice principal respectively, came on Monday night in their Pj's and read stories to children , also cozily snuggled into their Pj's. On Tuesday night, Coach Gedney and the Seniors from the Girls Hockey Team were present to say hello and mingle with the kids. Wednesday night is Dad's Night, the Daniel Hand High School football team will be there to meet and greet. On Thursday, Mrs. Taylor's dog will be there to provide kids with an attentive and noncritical audience if they'd like to read aloud.

Going to a good cause

Profits from the  Book Fair benefits the Jeffrey PTO,  as well as supplying books and funds to several groups that might not have the luxury of buying their own books. "Something people don't really know about , and we started it last year, is part of our profits go towards books for families that utilize the services of Madison Youth and Family," Joan Walker said. "There is also a jar to collect cash donations and a box for new book donations for MYFS."

The giving does not stop with our immediate community, there is also a box to collect gently used books for the students at the Kathryn Brennan School in New Haven.

Every year the Book Fair has a theme, this year the theme is Heroes and Reading Saves the Day.  Surrounding each book laden table, there are drawings by the students of the everyday heroes in their lives; including moms who make lunches, policemen and firemen who help, and uncles and granddads who have served in wars.

Then there are the heros of literature, real people as well as mythological characters who fight evil, battle for good or just figure out how to make the best of their particular challenging situation.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Mr. Halpern, the school librarian, has his traditional  table of "Mr. Halpern's picks".  One of his favorites is the contemporary classic, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom which is available in large Board Book style for 12.99, it is a fun and playful romp with the alphabet.  Joan Walker picked Cool Dog School Dog as her favorite from this table,another  fun to read aloud book wherein a much loved but mischievous dog misbehaves but in the end finds a way to be useful, a hero in his own right.  Another pick that looks promising is "The Clock Work Three,"  A tale of three children; an orphan, an apprentice clockmaker and a maid with a cruel master who must learn to trust themselves and each other to survive.

Books of all kinds are available starting with the preschool set and through middle school reading.  A big hit this year is the classic Chicka Chick Boom Boom, available in large board book style. The latest installment of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Ugly truth is a bestseller and flying off the shelves.  It is available in paper for 6.99.  Advanced elementary school readers and middle-school readers and even teens and adults loved Rick Riordan's "The Lightening Thief" series. Two different new series by the same author  are showcased and sure to be a hit: "The Lost Hero" and "The Red Pyramid." There are even a few tables with books for grownups , including a nice selection of cookbooks, fiction, coffee-table books and sports. Pick up a gift for someone on your list,  pick up a gift for yourself. 

The book fair runs until 8 p.m. Wednesday night, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.