Elementary students from school across the Shelby County School District participated in the Imagination Book Fair, which showcased their knowledge of books they had recently read.

The third, fourth, and fifth-grade students competed in the event by designing display boards that depicted their chosen books. Students had to include details of the book in their displays including the author and illustrator, publisher, main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, author’s purpose, mood/tone, and a review or recommendation.  The students also had to do a verbal presentation for a panel of judges, where they were asked to describe details of the book and how they came up with the idea for the design of their display boards.

Grade-level winners were: third grade – Miller Norris, Inverness Elementary School; fourth grade – Hayley Gilbert, Mt Laurel Elementary School; and fifth grade – James Alexander, Vincent Elementary, and Abby Smith, Helena Intermediate (tied).  Each of the grade winners received a Nook Tablet 7.  Every student who participated in the event received a certificate and a $25 gift card to Books-A-Million.

The overall winner of the event was Mallory Venable from Shelby Elementary, whose display board highlighted the book “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library.” As the overall winner, Venable won a new Chromebook.

Another highlight of the Imagination Book Fair was marker station tables that were showcased by each elementary Library Media Center.  The tables included fun activities where the students were able to play with Ozobots, Play-Doh, design their own bookmarks and book jacket covers, build cootie catchers, or doodle their favorite book quote.  There were also STEM activities such as building a bridge for the Three Billy Goats Gruff, a wooden house for the three little pigs that would survive a blast of air from the Big Bad Blowdryer Wolf or a jet car that was propelled with air from a balloon.