Contributed to the Telegram

First Grade students at Winstead Avenue Elementary School dressed up as their favorite storybook character and marched through the halls to celebrate their love of reading during the second annual Storybook Character Day Parade.

After the parade, students greeted parents, teachers and classmates to tell others about their special character and why they chose the book as their all time favorite. First grade teacher Katherine Bailey, dressed as Mary Poppins, said Storybook Character Day is a fun way to encourage students to read for pleasure as well as in school. Plans already are under way for the third annual Storybook Character Day Parade in 2009 by first grade teachers Katherine Bailey, Susan Bass, Cherie Goosby, Mary Harwood, Heather Hedgepeth, Jo Lea, Hope Sides, Anita Turner, and Leigh Ulrich.