School encourages reading with book fair, photo display, reading contest

The annual Scholastic Book Fair was held the week of January 31 before and after school Monday-Wednesday and noon-7 p.m. during parent-teacher conferences on Thursday at Perkins County Elementary.
    “The turnout was great,” said Perkins County Schools Head Librarian Erica Turner. “The books were picked through pretty quickly during the first couple of evenings.”
With the sale of 647 books, the fair netted $5500 including donations, 50 percent of which the school keeps in Scholastic Dollars to purchase new books to replenish the library’s shelves. Turner typically uses these funds to fulfill students’ book requests.
Prior to the fair, students were invited to send pictures of themselves reading at home. These photos were on display at the fair.
The “Jumprope for Plainsmen” program assisted in the purchase of books as well. Students who qualified by gathering $50 in donations for the jumprope contest received a coupon for $10 to be used at the book fair. All 54 students who qualified used their coupon to purchase a book, said Turner.
Battle of the Books
Currently underway is a reading competition called “Battle of the Books” and is available to students in grades 3-8 through ESU 16. To qualify, students must read four of several chosen Golden Sower nominee selections, then take a quiz on the content. Qualifiers will be able to test their brains as well as their brawn in a contest on March 23 in North Platte. The “brain” portion consists of a team quizzing session on the selected books. The students’ “brawn” is tested by participation in a National Guard obstacle course.
Qualifying so far are four students at the elementary school and three at the junior high.