{"id":14945,"date":"2026-04-01T11:02:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T15:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=14945"},"modified":"2026-04-01T11:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T15:02:09","slug":"book-fair-and-literacy-night-focuses-on-positivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/book-fair-and-literacy-night-focuses-on-positivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Book fair and literacy night focuses on positivity"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Providence Elementary’s Book Fair and Literacy Night featured author Leland Clelland, who read from his book, “I Am…Building a Positive Mindset for Kids!” Students Eleanor and Cole Talk helped Clelland bring the story to life.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>Providence Elementary students met a chameleon named Kylo during the school\u2019s Book Fair and Literacy Night March 24.<\/p>\n

Children\u2019s author Leland Clelland brought the friendly reptile to life while reading from his book, \u201cI Am\u2026Building a Positive Mindset for Kids!\u201d<\/p>\n

Students repeated after him as he turned the pages.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am strong!\u201d\u00a0 \u201cI am smart!\u201d \u201cI am a leader!\u201d they chanted.<\/p>\n

Clelland took them on an adventure with Kylo. The curious chameleon changed colors and learned all kinds of things about himself while exploring new places and meeting new friends.<\/p>\n

The featured author is an Old Dominion University graduate, former educator and father to three young boys.<\/p>\n

The theme of Clelland\u2019s motivational children\u2019s book \u2013 encouraging a positive mindset and social-emotional awareness \u2013 transcended the evening.<\/p>\n

Art teacher Shannon Coleman hosted a rock-painting activity. \u201cWrite something that makes you feel joy,\u201d she told the students.<\/p>\n

Rocks and a list of suggested positive affirmations, such as \u201csilly,\u201d \u201chappy\u201d and \u201crespectful,\u201d were provided.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Olivia Grace Willey painted two rocks, including one featuring the word “love.” Students were invited to paint rocks with positive affirmations and either take them home or leave behind for the school’s outdoor learning garden.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First grader Olivia Grace Willey painted \u201clove\u201d on a rock and was undecided about taking it home or leaving it behind for the school\u2019s outdoor learning garden.<\/p>\n

Sarah Willey said her daughter is doing \u201cextremely well\u201d in school and has improved in reading skills thanks to a compassionate, patient teacher who \u201cgoes above and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

She\u2019s proud of her 7-year-old. \u201cWe read every night,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Willey applauded the literacy event for engaging families in positive experiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so impressed with the school and the PTA,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Attendees also had the chance to print three-dimensional bookmarks and write positive messages on them.<\/p>\n

The annual book fair took place simultaneously in the library. Students and their families shopped for books, posters and more.<\/p>\n

First grader Andrew Peoples chose several items, including a book featuring Pok\u00e9mon. His mother Sinclaire Salkey said they attended the event in part to encourage her son to read.<\/p>\n

Andrew said he likes to read. \u201cI\u2019m working on long \u2018a\u2019 sounds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Library media specialist Erin Berens said promoting literacy is important.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Providence Elementary library media specialist Erin Berens was very busy during the school’s annual Book Fair and Literacy Night. Many students and their families attended, including Tiffany and David Brown and their children Levi and Barrett.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The family-focused evening created excitement about reading, she said. \u201cWhen we host events like the book fair, we are not just offering books but investing in our students\u2019 identities as readers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Proceeds from the annual book fair allow her to purchase a book for every student and staff member through the \u201cOne School, One Book\u201d program.<\/p>\n

Principal Michael Taylor said meeting an author helped students see themselves as readers and creators, while the book fair sparked enthusiasm for picking books that suit their interests.<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether, these moments strengthen our school community and reinforce our belief that literacy is not just a skill, but a lifelong passion worth celebrating,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Kindergartener Tommy White III showed off the rock he painted during the Providence Elementary Book Fair and Literacy Night. He was also happy about getting four new books.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Providence Elementary art teacher Shannon Coleman invited students to paint positive affirmations on rocks during the school’s annual Book Fair and Literacy Night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Many of the approximately 500 Providence Elementary students attended the school’s Book Fair and Literacy Night, including first grader Andrew Peoples and his mother.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Ashley Adama’s children were excited about their purchases from the Providence Elementary book fair. From left, third grader Patrick Wilson, kindergartener Aiden Wilson and fifth grader Taylor Daniel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kempsville Library lead librarian Alyssa Odango Brunner attended Providence Elementary’s Book Fair and Literacy Night. She provided lots of information about Virginia Beach Public Library programs and also talked to students, including third grader Declan Costello, about how to get a library card.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Children’s author Leland Clelland and his wife Morgan attended Providence Elementary School’s Book Fair and Literacy Night March 24.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Providence Elementary students met a chameleon named Kylo during the school\u2019s Book Fair and Literacy Night March 24. Children\u2019s author Leland Clelland brought the friendly reptile to life while reading […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":14948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-connections","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14945"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14945\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14962,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14945\/revisions\/14962"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}