Bringing Books to Life at Landmark Academy at Reunion

Halloween had a fun twist this year at Landmark Academy at Reunion as the school hosted Dress Like a Book Character Day. The annual event has become a fun way to celebrate both the holiday and a love of reading.

Jessica Crockett, a first-grade teacher at Landmark, has been at the heart of this tradition for nearly five years. “It gets kids engaged and excited about different types of books,” Crockett shares. "They're already in the Halloween spirit, so this lets us channel that excitement into something educational. It’s a fun way to help students interact with literature in a new way.”



Kindergarten through fifth-grade students were invited to bring their favorite stories to life by dressing up as characters from books like “The Cat in the Hat,” “Pinkalicious,” and the Harry Potter series. Several teachers also joined in on the fun, donning costumes inspired by characters from “Llama Llama Red Pajama” and “Bluey.” “I was Bluey, and my teammates joined in as Bingo and Muffin from the show’s book series,” Crockett noted. “It’s so much fun to bring these stories into the classroom in such a lively way.”



The day also gave students an opportunity to share and discuss their favorite books with classmates. “I had kids bring in their books to share with each other. We even used some of these books for reading activities throughout the day. It really gets them engaged and makes them feel like they have ownership over the stories they chose,” she explains.



For Crockett, the goal of this event is to foster a love of reading that extends beyond the classroom. "I hope students see that reading isn’t just about words on a page; it’s an experience. Through events like this, I want them to understand that books can be something we celebrate and live out," she says.



Great job Jessica and the Landmark Academy team on making reading even more fun!
About Landmark Academy at Reunion 
Landmark Academy at Reunion is a tuition-free, public charter school in Commerce City, Colorado, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.

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