At Bentheim Elementary, March is Reading Month ended with a celebration full of creativity, imagination, and a whole lot of fun.
First grade teacher Mrs. Kristi Zoerhof—channeling her inner “Miss Frizzle” for the day—took on the role of reporter, microphone in hand, to capture the excitement of Book Character Day. Traveling through the halls, she interviewed students and staff as they proudly showed off their costumes inspired by favorite stories.
From classic characters to modern favorites, Bentheim was filled with familiar faces. The kindergarten teachers dressed as the Three Little Pigs, students ranged from characters from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Dog Man, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Wings of Fire, Fancy Nancy, The Pigeon series, Rainbow Fish, and many more.
Beyond the costumes, the day highlighted something even more meaningful—the joy of reading and the lessons that stories teach. One student shared how The Rainbow Fish is a favorite because it teaches the importance of sharing, while others talked about friendship, adventure, and imagination found within the pages of their favorite books.
Throughout the month, Bentheim students also participated in “Hawkeye Madness,” a bracket-style competition where classes voted on their favorite books. After weeks of reading and voting, the school narrowed it down to the final two contenders: Attack of the Underwear Dragon and Mother Bruce, with the winner set to be revealed on April 1!
Book Character Day was more than just dress-up—it was a celebration of literacy, creativity, and the powerful connection students have with stories. Thanks to Mrs. Zoerhof’s energy and enthusiasm, the day was captured in a way that truly reflected the excitement of reading across the school.
