Holley students turn pumpkins into famous children’s book characters
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
HOLLEY – The Holley Elementary School Library is currently filled with Halloween pumpkins that are bursting with personality. The library is hosting its 2nd annual “Book Character” Pumpkin Decorating Contest. (The top photo shows Junie B. Jones, which was made by a third-grader.)
Holley Elementary Library Media Specialist Julie Bader says winners will be announced on Friday. The contest is open to students and their families and follows the theme of “My Favorite Book Character.” Classrooms can also participate in the contest.
In a first grade entry, mini pumpkins are used to create Eric Carle’s “Very Hungry Caterpillar.”
The entries this year, “have exceeded my wildest dreams what they have come up with,” Bader says.
She explains the contest encourages reading favorite books as well as discovering new characters students may not have known before. It also reaches out to families and parents in hopes that they will work along with Bader to instill a love of reading and literary characters in students.
A pre-K entry features a classic children’s book character: Humpty Dumpty.
No carving of pumpkins is allowed. Participants paint, decorate and embellish their creations with a wide-range of artistic materials.
First, second and third prizes will be awarded for Pre-K- first grade; second through third grade; and fourth through sixth grade.
This pumpkin goes pink as Wilber from Charlotte’s Web in an entry by a fourth-grader.
A sixth-grader utilizes a pumpkin turned on its stem end to create a zombie fish character.
This entry by a Holley fifth-rader features innovative use of props to create the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz.
A pre-K/Kindergarten entry features mini pumpkins decorated as Ten Little Ladybugs.
