The Montclair Cooperative School is celebrating literacy with Bookapalooza! 2012, which begins the week of October 22. This annual book fair, which is open to the community, exemplifies much of what the Co-op is all about: creativity, challenge, digging deep into study, giving back, and connecting with and understanding our communities.
This year’s festivities will be kicked-off with the first annual Readathon on October 15, challenging children to set goals for daily reading and to collect sponsorship money when goals are met. This sponsorship money will be given to the 8th grade class in support of their spring trip to the great southwest. The students will encourage literacy by donating books to a Native American reservation on their visit.
On Tuesday, October 23, the children will experience literacy on a whole new level as they dress up as their favorite literary characters and dive into books.
The Parent Education team will sponsor a discussion entitled  “Not By the Book: Thoughtful Parenting in the Changing Cyber Age,” on Tuesday, October 23 at 7 pm at the Montclair Cooperative School.  Open to the public, this timely chat will be led by Head of School Maggie Granados. RSVP here.
On Wednesday, October 24, they celebrate with a Poetry Slam—the art of performance poetry. Putting a dual emphasis on writing and performance, they’ll encourage thier poets to focus on what they’re saying and how they’re saying it.  (Not open to the public.)
In cooperation with Watchung Booksellers, the book fair will feature a wide variety of titles and topics for all ages.
The lineup is as follows:
- Friday, October 26: open from 12 – 4: open for business. Signed books available to purchase by NYTimes best-selling author, and Co-op parent, DT Max.
- Saturday, October 27: open from 11 – 4: book sales, book signings, author readings, a chance to enjoy the inimitable Bookworm Cafe serving homemade takeaway meals and treats, as well as an opportunity to create and take home a small work of art
- Sunday, October 28, open from 11 – 3: books sales, Bookworm Cafe, and a book signing and cooking demo by Stacey Antine of Health Barn USA (11:30 am)