Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School at Barnes & Noble

The first and second graders had guest readers who enjoyed themselves. The turning of the pages with its colorful drawings was mesmerizing for the children. The stories were also appropriate for their age group. The first graders’ Gingerbread Men was read by Alexa Kevorkian and the second graders’ The Stowaway was read by Kathy Deukmedjian. Decorative puppets were also presented by the second graders. The third graders were dressed as their favorite characters. With great poise, they presented the fascinating traits of their book heroes. The fourth graders enlightened us with the “tools” of good writing and took us back to school by revealing the knowledge of Figurative Language. They could easily explain symbolism, personification, the protagonist or antagonist of a particular story. At the end, the fifth and sixth graders thrilled everyone with the humor of Shel Silverstein’s poems. With a clear understanding, they delivered the ironic and poignant messages hidden in his collection of poems known as Where the Sidewalk Ends.

As the time neared to dismissal, children, parents, and grandparents roamed through the store to seek more books, educational items and eventually made their purchases. Thanks to the persons in charge, Lana Kazangian and Hripsime Bakhshian, event co-chairs, and Mina Hovsepian, PTO chair, this undertaking was a great success.

The culmination of the day was a visit with guest author, Michael Bobelian. He presented his book, Children of Armenia, with dignity and eloquence. He emphasized the consequences of unacknowledged injustice and how emotional turmoil turns into such unbearable anguish that a living survivor of the Armenian Genocide will bend to an act such as revenge.

Bobelian was gracious and signed many of his books that were purchased.

Congratulations to all participants for their effort and belief in the education of our youngsters.