Love (of Books) is in the Air in Woodbury

February is packed with celebrations. Groundhogs, Valentines, Presidents and Black History all get some well-deserved attention in February.

But my favorite February celebration encompasses all of the above and more. I Love to Read Month is celebrated during February in schools throughout our district and around the country.

I’m a reader. I love books. I have books stacked around my house like the little rock piles used to mark out hiking trails. I encourage my kids to read too because I believe literacy is a lifelong gift that provides job opportunities, improved health and better access to higher education.

So I’m thrilled when I see the imaginative and supportive approach that some of our district educators implement to get kids excited about reading.

has an annual reading celebration sponsored by the Bailey PTA. The media center sets the stage with a fun theme. Over the years, pirates, cowboys, pyramids and Clue board game suspects have all made appearances there during I Love to Read month. This year the Bailey media center has been transformed into the Kingdom Far, Far Away and Shrek’s Swamp complete with sightings of fairytale characters.

Students are encouraged to participate in a reading challenge by recording time spent reading on a card. Reading time is counted in 20-minute increments and the PTA provides small incentives to students along the way.

Media Specialist Jane Roberson says that Culver’s has been a huge supporter of I Love to Read month by providing restaurant coupons as prizes. But students are especially excited to complete enough reading cards to get Principal Molly Roeske, fourth-grade teacher Mr. Hovden and gym teacher Mr. Scott to dress up as characters from Shrek on the last day of the month!

Over at , I Love to Read Month is celebrated with a book exchange. Students can bring books from home that they no longer want and trade for books other students bring in. Exchange tables are set up in the media center where Media Specialist Marla Hall says some kids come everyday and as many as 300 books get traded.

Woodbury Elementary also features a month-long calendar of events. Students that complete the calendar activities, things like “read your entire cereal box” or “read to your pet,” can earn a free book. Additional books are awarded to students who tally more reading time than screen time during the month.

There’s even a contest for higher grades to create the best “wordle” art with words having to do with books. I investigated this wordle phenomenon at www.wordle.net and discovered the fun those kids must be having with it. Marla said I would be hooked. She was right!

I’m just tickled to see my kiddos eager to read and excited to participate in the reading events at their school. By making reading fun, kids are developing skills that will enhance their lives and the lives of those in their community. I tip my fairytale crown to media specialists everywhere who encourage kids to love reading.