Newtown's four elementary schools celebrated literacy during National Library week, April 8 to 14. The schools celebrated reading with author visits and different activities, such as decorating and wearing capes.The Messiest Desk.The Middle Gate Bee, the school's newspaper, was delivered on the first day of the week by fourth grade reporters to classrooms. Mr Kelley visited this school on Tuesday, as well, and in preparation each class at the school read The Messiest Desk. Also during the week, the school's science lab was turned into a "Recycling Museum" to display third grade creations made from recycled materials. During lunch periods at Middle Gate, according to Ms Silveira, students were asked trivia questions about both the Earth and reading.A Cape!Bad Kitty series, called Camp Daze. Mr Bruel later shared how he comes up with story ideas, and he walked the students through an exercise of writing their own story.

Head O' Meadow Elementary School prepared students for its Children's Literacy Week with an assembly on April 5. In preparation for author and illustrator Marty Kelley visiting the school on April 12, educators and school staff acted out scenes from Mr Kelley's book,

Head O' Meadow also hosted guest readers on April 9. First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, members of the Board of Education, and others read books by Mr Kelley to different classes. On April 10, school staff surprised students by dressing up as book characters.

At Middle Gate Elementary School, the week had a special "Read and Grow" theme, to highlight both the celebration of reading and Earth Day, which will be marked on April 22. Middle Gate Language Arts Consultant Lina Silveira and Math/Science Specialist Jill Bracksieck coordinated different activities throughout the week.

Mr Kelley also visited Hawley Elementary School on April 11.

"Happy Hawley Loves to Read Week," Library/Media Specialist Sara Wasley said to an assembly of second and third grade students while introducing Mr Kelley, who lives in New Boston, Mass.

Hawley students wore capes they decorated for the occasion, in honor of Mr Kelley's book

Mr Kelley spoke to the students about being an author and illustrator, and he voiced the story of A Cape! for the students.

Hawley Loves to Read Week also included a book swap on April 10. Books donated by Hawley families and staff were displayed on tables in the school's multipurpose room. All of the school's roughly 300 students took turns visiting the room to browse the books and choose one book to keep.

Author and illustrator Nick Bruel, who lives in Tarrytown, N.Y., visited Sandy Hook Elementary School on April 12. During four different presentations, he spoke with all grade levels at the school.

For a presentation for fourth graders, Mr Bruel read from the latest book in his

Two students came up with a title for the story, "Upset Owl," before Mr Bruel asked a series of questions to create the story from the students' answers. Each part of the story was generated by students.

Finally Mr Bruel retold the story for the students, recalling each detail of the story they had pieced together.

"The owl and the raccoon went to the water park to have some fun, and they stayed there for the next 17 million years," Mr Bruel recalled the ending.

He reminded the students that they had come up with each "magnificent detail" of their story themselves.

Near the end of the presentation, Mr Bruel demonstrated ways he illustrates the character of Bad Kitty to have different expressions.