Greenpark School ended the school term this week with a book fair and book character dress up day.

The school community was invited to the school's annual Scholastic Book Fair which was held in the school library from July 2-5.

'A book fair is the perfect place for a child to discover new books and ignite their love for reading,” says Greenpark School Librarian Jude Cosson. 'Everyone could have a look through and purchase books at the fair with all purchases earning literacy and learning resources for our school.”

As part of the Scholastic Book Fair celebrations the school also held a book character dress up day. Teachers and students came dressed as their favourite character and a special assembly was held in the school hall to admire and celebrate all the wonderful storybook characters as they came to life.

Ben Brock as Hansel with children dressed in book character costumes

Teacher Ben Brock, known to students as Mr Brock, and dressed as Hansel from Hansel and Gretel, was the compere for the school assembly. Highly engaging and entertaining, he interviewed the classrooms of students as they took to the stage to show off their costumes.

'Are you from Beauty and the Beast?” asked Mr Brock of a student dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. 'Yes? What's your name? Belle? Are you from Beauty and Beast? Which one are you? Beauty? Or the Beast? Oh, Beauty? I wasn't sure? I haven't read the book.”

He turned to the audience to reflect on topics such as cake, sneezing and teeth.

'The best flossing people in the school - do you know who it is?” asked Mr Brock. 'It's the dentist ladies.”
Each classroom of students took a turn to go up on the stage and show off their book character costumes.

'The roll is 850, and goes up to Year 6. By the end of the year we will have about 900 children. This is my sixth year here, and my third book fair.'

The school sells Scholastic books and gets 35 per cent of all sales.

'And that's to spend on books for the library,” says Jude. 'It's a good fundraiser.

'We had a competition this year for the teachers called ‘Battle of the Books'. Each teacher had to find their favourite picture book and make a video promoting it.”

The videos are available for viewing on the Greenpark School website.

On stage Mr Brock asked another student about the cake they carried as part of their costume.

'Is that cake for me? Is it real? Can I eat it?” asked Mr Brock, before turning to address the audience who were cheering at the thought of cake. 'She brought me cake. There's lots of cakes for everybody. No just me. Only people who are handsome. That's me!”

He then spoke with the next group, selecting one of the students who was dressed as a witch to interview.

'I got to speak to someone scary. You are a witch in a cherry tree? Is that your real nose? No? That's good because you have a lump on your nose. It doesn't look very good you need to see a doctor.” He turned to the audience. 'She looks very scary!” he proclaimed.

At the end of the school assembly the winner of Battle of the Books was announced. Mrs Pearce with her movie of ‘The Were-Nana: Not a Bedtime Story' by Melinda Szymanik, starring Mrs Cosson, with George and Isabelle Athy-knibbs won the competition.

'Next time we do a book dress up day, it will probably be super heroes,” says Jude Cosson.

Warren Young, Clifford aka Rochelle Rhind, and Fiona Silvester

Teachers dressed as a various Crayolla colours

Anna Parker, teacher at Greenpark School

Mrs Pearce as a Billy Goat Gruff with the troll.

Ben Brock as Hansel