Media Center Programs

Author Visits
Children's Book Week
NC Children's Book Award
Read Across America
Book Swap
Book Fairs

Author Visits

Visits from children's book authors enhance reading education by helping kids understand the process of creating books. If you have an "inside connection to a children's book author or illustrator, please let Dr. Buescher in the Media Center know so that we can arrange for more of these fantastic learning opportunities for Olds students.

In the Fall of 2004, we were very fortunate to have an award-winning illustrator visit with K-2 students in the media center. Peter McCarty is the author and illustrator of Hondo & Fabian, a picture book for which he won a Caldecott honor award. In Fall 2005, Consie Powell, author and illustrator of Leave Only Ripples: A Canoe Country Sketchbook , visited with 4th graders to discuss drawing nature art and how she makes her unique and beautiful woodcut illustrations.

National Children's Book Week

The Olds Media Center celebrates National Children's Book Week each Fall by inviting guest readers to read to each class. Readers may be local celebraties, community helpers, NC State athletes, and others who bring interesting stories and backgrounds to share along with their readings.
See photos

NC Children's Book Award

In early Spring each year, Dr. Buescher coordinates parent volunteers to read picture books and junior novels nominated for the North Carolina Children's Book Award. These books are read in classrooms, libraries, and media centers all over North Carolina! Once all the books have been read to every class, Olds students vote on their favorites and their votes are submitted for the statewide tally. The award is therefore truly a children's book award - selected by the children of the state of North Carolina!
See most recent nominees

Read Across America

Read Across America is a nationwide event, sponsored by the National Educational Association held on Dr. Seuss' birthday (March 2) encourages everyone to celebrate reading on the same day. In years past, NCSU students have visited Olds to read with students.

Book Swap

Students bring in their used books to pass on to other students. The goal is for every student to go home with two "new to me" books, whether or not they contributed books. Many families take this opportunity to clean out their book shelves while helping other children to build their book collections.

Book Fairs

Scholastic Book Fairs
Once or twice each year, Dr. Buescher works with parent volunteers to turn the Media Center into a children's book store for a week. These events are fundraisers for the media center AND the kids love them! Parent volunteers help kids shop for appropriate books using money or "book bucks" purchased by parents. Parents and kids can also choose to buy books from teachers' wish lists for their classrooms.

In-Store Book Fairs
Local bookstores sometimes work with the school to offer in-store book fairs including special displays and events for kids, with a percentage of sales going to support the Olds Media Center. Most recently Quail Ridge Books & Music has co-sponsored an in-store book fair featuring a Friday night Pajama Party & storytelling event and another that culminated with a program of special readings for children by authors, Consie Powell and Luli Gray.