- February 23, 2025
Noelle Boxrud and Amelia Hall were not to be disturbed.
The two 5 year olds sat close together in their "Frozen" pajamas, hunched over what seemed to be a very important book. When asked what it was, Boxrud quickly muttered "Taylor Swift," and went back to reading.
"These are my favorite books because they have my favorite stuff in them," said Boxrud after she finally put "Taylor Swift" down. "Unicorns, princesses and cats."
"I like the same things," said Hall.
With a shared understanding of the important things in life, Hall and Boxrud even made an effort to educate two of their male classmates, who quickly lost interest in Taylor Swift's story. Still, it was pajama night at St. Brendan's Catholic School, and the students in attendance did share a love of reading — and sugar cookies.
"Reading sets the stage for the rest of their educational career," said Principal Philip Gorrasi, "and for the rest of their lives."
Held as a part of the school's annual Scholastic Book Fair, the event gave a nighttime opportunity for pre-k, kindergarten and first-graders to shop the selection with their parents. Gisselle Conway, who had three kids, said she makes it a point to read a few pages in a book from the "Ramona" collection with them every night.
"They love it," she said. "It's an avenue for knowledge and a way for them to explore beyond their surroundings."
Dillon Kalkhurst, part-time Ormond Beach resident and director of community engagement and strategic partnerships for Scholastic Book Fairs, said he understands first-hand how important finding the right book is.
"My favorite book ever was 'Go, Dog. Go!'" he said. "I still have it memorized. At Scholastic, we're all about connecting the right book with the right child. We encourage parents to read at least 20 minutes a day with their children so they can develop a love for reading.
For more information about Scholastic Book Fairs, visit scholastic.com.
