March 4, 2010
By Karen McEnany-Phillips
The Voice
Judy Mullis has taught at Winter Springs Elementary for more than 20 years but in her second year as school Media Specialist she tapped into her inner bobby-soxer as she kicked off the school's spring book fair.
Sponsored twice a year by Scholastic Book Fairs, the event takes planning and preparation in order to pull it off successfully. Bringing the theme to life inspires kids to read and become engaged with books, and Mullis went all-out, turning her media center into a lively diner setting.
She decorated with vintage cars, vinyl records, jukeboxes, milkshakes, bee-bop music and comfort food.
"Our guidance counselor Mary Satkowiak made the car and our art teacher Erin Tanner made the giant milkshake," said Mullis.
She put the jukebox wall up over a month ago so kids could start donating money for the school fundraiser. For each donation, kids could add a milkshake or record to the wall and Scholastic matched every dollar donation. By the time her book fair started the wall was jammed with shakes and records.
Family night was a big success as parents joined their kids to select books, bestsellers, gifts and reading accessories with 50s music playing in the background.
"Parent involvement has been better; we had a great turnout," Mullis said.
What are kids reading now?
"They like the nerd books and a popular book now is 'Chewy and Chica' from The Puppy Place," said Mullis.
Arnez and Amire Rouse picked out books with their mom. "I like basketball books," Arnez said. "Our mom picked out a book about President Barack Obama for Amire."
Third-grader John Hardy says he always enjoys the book fair.
"I like chapter books that are scary, creepy and gross, and Sherlock Holmes too!" Hardy said.
Mullis hopes having one of the earliest book fairs in Seminole County will inspire her students to read more and to do well on their FCAT testing in March.
"This has been really fun for us," Mullis said. "I love to read!"
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