I've been in charge of several family reading nights at our school. Past themes have been-
* Catch the Reading Bug--bug theme
* Reading is Snow Fun--winter theme
* Wild about Reading-- animal theme
* Treasure Reading--pirate theme
* Reading is Magical-- magic theme

I just ordered a reading night kit and we plan on doing one in the fall. Has anyone else run one in the fall and have feedback on timing and good themes?

Our reading week is
READING WEEK 2011: April 4-8;
Theme "Travel the World Inside a Book: New Faces, New Places, READ"
I have taken a few ideas from the site...
We have little volunteering but we would like to hold a free even to tie in with our Book Fair.
Any ideas to go with the theme and to keep it less stressful on the PTO and fun and free for families?

Tricia-
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with other PTOs & PTAs! What a great theme for a winter reading night! Congrats on all the positive feedback from attendees.

Wondering if you took any photos? If you did we'd love it if you shared them with other leaders here: www.ptotoday.com/community/groups/viewgr...ht+Group#photoid=239

Thanks again,

~Lisa


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Our School held its first Family Reading Night last week and the kids loved it. I was so nervous about it but I just followed the outline in the family reading night kit and it was very easy!!! Our theme was Snuggle Up with a Good Book. The kids brought blankets to cover up with and it was so cute. We asked a local radio deejay to be our guest reader and she was WONDERFUL!! We had a book swap table and refreshments (cookies and Hot Chocolate) and the PTO bought $1 books from scholastic and book marks to be sure everyone went home with something. Local electric companies also donated a few things. Some parents wanted to make it a monthly thing ...others told us it was the best thing we ever did!! although our school is K-12 we really targeted the k-3rd grades. We plan on making this a yearly event!!

We had our first Family Reading Night in December. Our theme was The Polar Express. We had guest readers from the community and school Dads/grandddads to read the book to groups of students. The evening opened with a Holiday concert by the 1st and 2nd graders. Then the high schoolers/elves, conducted the kids to the various reading rooms. Each child was given a golden bell at the end of the reading. Readers read the book over and over as different groups came and went. On the way out, kids were given cookies and milk. We also had pictures from Santa. Attendance was about 400-500. HUGE SUCCESS!