Breckenridge Texan

Although the varsity football team has a bye week, this Friday won’t fall into the category of “nothing to do” and the stadium won’t stand empty. The third annual Buckaroo Book Night will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, in Buckaroo Stadium.

Book lovers of all ages are invited to attend the event, according to organizer Abby Moore, South Elementary librarian.

“Kids can bring their books, their blankets, their families, and we spread out on the field and we read,” Moore said in an interview with Breckenridge High School student Chris Otts on the BISD Journalism and Web Media Facebook page. “We have all kinds of fun events going on… It’s just a really fantastic, family fun night.”

For the third year in a row, local celebrities have volunteered to read to Buckaroo Book Night attendees. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/ Breckenridge Texan)

Throughout the evening, there will be a variety of activities going on, including face painting and local “celebrities” reading books to attendees on the following schedule:

• 6:15 – Mary Perkins and Sheriff Will Holt
• 6:30 – Kenna Rainey and Pat Renchler
• 6:45 – Deedra Boaz and RaKel Paul
• 7:00 – Barbara Collinsworth and William Paul
• 7:15 – Molly Johnson and Roberto Harrison
• 7:30 – Tim Seymore

The event will be free and open to the public, but some things there will cost a few dollars, such as the pizza meal deals that the PTO will be selling at the concession stand for $5 each. There also will be Buckaroo Book Night t-shirts available for pre-order at the event for $10 each.

Free Book Swap

Last year, the book swap was so popular, that it will be offered again this year. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

For the second year in a row, the Buckaroo Book Night will include a free book swap for Breckenridge Independent School District elementary students in grades kindergarten through sixth. Students can bring their gently used books to trade for someone else’s used books.

To participate in the book swap, students may bring up to (but no more than) 10 books per child in your family to the book swap area of Book Night – in the endzone –  by 6:30 p.m. Friday. After 6:30, the books will be loosely organized by age appropriateness, and then the swap will be open from 7 to 8 p.m.

The books need to be children’s books appropriate for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Moore asks that participants not bring adult books or board books and other books more suited to babies or toddlers.

For each book that a student brings, he or she will be given a ticket(s). Paperback books will be worth one ticket each, and hardback books will be worth two tickets. The tickets may then be used to “buy” books at that same rate. Participants don’t have to spend all of their tickets. Moore said any leftover books will be donated.

Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Buckaroo Book Night attendees take a look at the pumpkin decorating contest entries last year. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/ Breckenridge Texan)

Another element of Buckaroo Book Night is the Book Character Pumpkin Decorating Contest. To enter, Breckenridge students in grades kindergarten through six, need to bring a pumpkin – or gourd – decorated like a book character to Book Night by 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The entry fee will be $5 each, and proceeds will benefit the fifth grade Science Camp trip. Prizes will be awarded to the winning designs. Contestants are encouraged to bring a copy of a printed image of the book that their character is from.

There are a few rules that need to be followed:

• Pumpkins must be primarily decorated by the students.
• Do not put your name on the pumpkin; you will fill out an identification slip when you enter.
• Pumpkins must be decorated – not carved.
• Each student is responsible for taking home their pumpkins at the end of the night.

Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: Families gathered at Buckaroo Stadium last year for Buckaroo Book Night. This year’s event is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 5. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)