Reading Rules at Fogelsville Elementary Book Fair

Sara Siegfried and Anna Hendricks are shopping for a book.

The two 8-year-old third graders at the came to the school's to make their purchase.

"I want Bad Kitty," Sara tells her father. Both girls say they read a lot in school and enjoy it.
"I bought a poster already," Hendricks said. "I'm gonna get a book tonight." The school's book fair, which began Tuesday, runs through Friday.

Heather Hechler, a volunteer parent, has run the book fair for the past three years and also operated one for three years in Arizona. She hopes the fair will generate funds for the school library.

She said last year the fair raised $3,000. The books, which are all new and cost between $2 and $18, cover such topics as preschool, holiday, adult, best sellers, cooking, reference, kids books, easy reader and picture books.

"The kids are really excited about the book fair," Principal Brenda DeRenzo said. "They have a wish list and get to check out books with heir parents."

Jennifer Hohenshilt, another volunteer parent, is thrilled by the response.

"It's great to see kids excited about books," she said. "It gets crazy around here. It's pretty exciting."

Also on hand was Carol Hersh, a former school mother, who showed off her book "Handy Sandy," a story about a third grade girl who is disabled from a car accident and in a wheelchair.

Sandy, who uses a service dog as a helper, is able to overcome her disability through creativity and courage, showing people that with the right attitude, anyone can accomplish anything.

"I wanted to help Carol promote her book," said Lynn Daniels, who has taught at the school for 35 years. "I taught her daughter 18 years ago. I thought the book fair would be the perfect situation to do that with her book."