WEEKI WACHEE — A school event can hardly go wrong when a giant yellow jacket and ice cream — with sprinkles — are among the highlights. But those were only part of Winding Waters K-8 school's annual Bookapalooza, which attracted a large and happy crowd Nov. 3.
The event was coordinated by the school's media specialist, Liz Marion, and supported by the Parent Teacher Organization. The book fair was open to parents, and the school's mall area was filled with book-themed activities.
"We're promoting literacy," Marion said.
The school puts on the event to give back to the community, she said, and for fun.
"It's a free night out for the parents," she added.
Marion said the Bookapalooza event was funded by proceeds from the book fair.
"Every activity is linked to a book in our library," said School Advisory Committee chairwoman, PTO vice president, library volunteer and parent Jen Bronhard.
The PTO provided cookies, icing and decorations for a table celebrating If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, as well as other event supplies.
The activities were run by middle school Beta Club students, yearbook staffers and even some Weekee Wachee High School students. Beta is a leadership and service club, and yearbook staffers helped out because, Marion said, she asked them.
"They'll take pictures, and they really like to help," she said.
A couple tables focused on The Very Hungry Caterpillar. At one, children created caterpillars using clothespins, pom poms, pipe cleaner antennae, googly eyes and glue. The other table had face painting, where children could have a caterpillar painted on themselves — though it was really more of an "anything goes" kind of thing.
At a table based on the Elephant and Piggie series, children made pig or elephant headbands using construction paper.
"They get to decorate it. They get to color it," said kindergarten paraprofessional Debbie Jensen.
The table for the Dork Diaries series advertised a chance to "dork out your diary." Students were given diary booklets to decorate and take home.
For Miss Small is Off the Wall, children were invited to write nice messages to their teachers on foam "bricks." These will hang on a wall outside the media center as a tribute to the teachers.
Rounding out the activities were a Yoda origami table for the Origami Yoda series, button-making to go along with Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, nail painting for Fancy Nancy and a Harry Potter series potion-making opportunity, pouring colored sugar into plastic test tubes, similar to Pixy Stix.
The Hernando County Library System, represented by youth service librarian Justin King and East Hernando Branch supervisor Susan Cataldo, helped students make bookmarks, using a die-cut machine, and sign up for library cards.
Eighth-grader Beta Club member Hannah Ashley, 13, was a Bookapalooza volunteer. Her mother, Angelia Ashley, donated the evening's ice cream and helped serve it.
"Ice cream makes everyone smile," Angelia Ashley said.
Hannah described the event as "absolutely wonderful. You get to see other people happy and just have fun."
Seventh-grader Beta member Alyssa Keene, 12, was helping kids make Harry Potter potions. She agreed with Hannah.
"It gives them an opportunity to have fun," she said about the younger kids. "It doesn't cost anything, so they can just come here and have fun with their friends. I like seeing the kids happy."
Tina Westlake, who has four children, two of whom attend Winding Waters, appreciated Bookapalooza's focus on literacy.
"I love it," Westlake said. "It gets kids reading again and away from technology."