Reading Week Fun

I rarely do posts about my job for more reasons than one, but if I can be helpful to other school librarians, then I think that is totally worth it.

There is one week every year that I ALWAYS look forward to and that is READING WEEK.  It's the one time every year that I can justify dressing up as a book character every single school day and get away with it.  It is also so much fun to see the look of recognition/awe/confusion/panic/glee in my students eyes when they see me.

And I'll admit it... I will do almost anything to get kiddos excited about reading.  I think that is the difference between being a good librarian and just phoning it in.  So without further ado, here are the costumes I came up with for this year.  Thanks local thrift stores and Pinterest!

Monday: Max from Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

This was a painter's suit and lots of stiff white felt for paws and buttons.  I fashioned a cardboard crown that is spray painted gold and made a golden scepter from cardboard and an old curtain spring rod.  And I also added pipe cleaner whiskers.  

Tuesday: Grover from Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Yeah, this is a selfie.  Anyway, you get the picture here. Pretty simple and easy.  I already had the horns from a renaissance faire ages ago (don't judge me) and I just took an orange tee and made an iron-on with a Camp Half-Blood logo.  This was a total hit with 5th and 6th grade. 

Wednesday: Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

One of my favorite villains. This outfit is one I threw together from things I already had in my closet.  I made the Peter Pan necklace deal from black ribbon and leftover white leather scraps and a bit of necklace chain.  The chocolate bar has a paper cover over it to make it more authentic looking. 

Thursday: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch 

I bought lawn bags at Home Depot and turned one inside out.  More challenging than you would think!  And I just cut some holes and added a rope belt.  The headband is just a dollar store thing with a tiny yellow card stock crown hot-glued on.  Again, simple but effective!

Friday: Mrs. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus Series by Joanna Cole

This took some work, I'll not lie.  I looked everywhere for the right dress.  I finally ended up finding a simple blue collar dress that I added felt letters and felt planets and stars onto.  I even sewed onto my shoulder a plastic chameleon to be "Liz." I added some felt star earrings and star clips to my shoes to finish off the look.  And I ordered this goofy school bus bag for kicks.

I hope that helped to inspire any of you readers that have something similar at your school!  The kids really enjoyed it and isn't that the whole reason we do what we do?  Maybe years from now, my students will remember me as that wacky librarian that really likes to read!