It's October ... time for school book fairs It's October ... time for school book fairs (October 06, 2004)

Books, books and more books will be on display and for sale at four school book fairs this week and next.

These annual events -- a hit with students, teachers, parents, grandparents and avid bibliophiles in the community -- showcase new titles, encourage reading, and raise funds for school libraries.

Corte Madera

Corte Madera School's annual book fair will run from Thursday, October 7, through Wednesday, October 13. There's a special shopping time on Saturday, October 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for soccer families.

Fair hours on school days are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Juliet Green's music room, located in the addition to the school's multi-use room, at 4575 Alpine Road in Portola Valley.

"We have titles for every interest and every age-level," said Margie MacKenzie, chair of the PTA-sponsored fair that raises funds for the Portola Valley School District's libraries. Last year the Corte Madera fair grossed $40,000.

"Walter the Giant Storyteller" returns Tuesday, October 5, to regale the campus community with book reviews and reading suggestions for all grade levels, said Ms. MacKenzie.

Ormondale

Hundreds of titles -- appropriate for preschool, elementary, and middle school children, as well cookbooks and titles for adults -- will be on sale at the Ormondale School book fair Monday through Friday, October 11-15.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (with a 4 p.m. closing on Friday) in the multi-use room at the school, 200 Shawnee Pass in Portola Valley.

The PTA-sponsored fair features Scholastic Books and raises funds for the school district's libraries. Klutz books also will be available.

There are opportunities to donate books to teachers, the Ormondale library, and Beechwood School, a private school for students in the Ravenswood City School District.

"Walter the Giant Storyteller" -- in real life, Walter Mayes -- will visit Ormondale on Friday, October 8, for an 11 a.m. assembly in the mult-use room.

Everyone is welcome at the fair, said chairperson Tamiko Verkler.

Oak Knoll

Kids, parents and community members are invited to "board the pirate ship to look for treasure and dig up great books" at Oak Knoll School's Scholastic Book Fair from Tuesday through Friday, October 12-15, in the Menlo Park school's multi-use room, 1895 Oak Knoll Lane.

Fair hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. A family night on Wednesday, October 13, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. will have pirate stories, crafts and great books, said Kim Guthrie, fair co-chair with Cindy Herr.

A goal of the fair is to help teachers build their classroom libraries. Fair visitors may review teachers' wish lists and buy a book to donate to a classroom.

All funds from the fair, sponsored by the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization), will be used to buy classroom materials and support school projects. For more information, call Cindy Herr or Kim Guthrie at 854-4433.

Laurel, Encinal schools

With a patriotic "Read, White and Blue" theme, Laurel and Encinal schools have teamed up for their Scholastic book fair, which runs from Tuesday, October 5, through Friday, October 8, in the multi-use room at Laurel School at 95 Edge Road in Atherton.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Teachers and librarians have compiled a list of book suggestions that will be available at the fair. Laurel is a grade K-2 school, and its students move over to Encinal School at 195 Encinal Ave. in Atherton for grades 3-5.

All profits go to the new Parent Teacher Organization.

A "pajama party" in the library on Thursday will be a highlight from 5 to 7 p.m. Parents are invited to get their children ready for bed and bring them to the library to listen to a storyteller while their parents shop for books.

Members of the All-Star Karate Black Belt Club will demonstrate their moves on Friday with multiple performances between 5 and 7 p.m. The group includes Encinal students Peter Berquist, Keenan Carr and Ryan Valentine.

Fair-goers may select, purchase and donate books on the teachers' wish list for their reading groups and classroom libraries.

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