Books turn into pumpkins at Higdon Elementary

Students, staff decorate gourds as characters from favorite stories

The library at Dr. Thomas Higdon Elementary School in Newburg got a little spook- ier this week, with more than 80 pumpkins decorated in the style of book characters by students and staff.

Higdon Principal Kathleen Morgan said this was the first year the school held its Pumpkin Book Project.

“We’ve always promoted students reading a book, but one of the things we’ve highlighted with the media specialist this year was getting creative with the students, and we involved the staff in participating,” Mor- gan said. “Some pumpkins have been transformed into many, many, many different book characters, so we’re very excited with the way it’s turned out.”

Sarah Gobe, Higdon media specialist, said the idea was to have students decorate pumpkins in the style of a character from their favorite book.

Gobe said that when she initially developed the idea, she thought she might get a few submissions.

“I ended up getting 88,” Gobe said. “I was hoping I’d maybe get as many as 10 to participate, but then it blew up.”

Gobe said parents were allowed to help decorate the pumpkins.

“Families could work with students on the decoration,” Gobe said. “But I really wanted it to be a student-led project.”

Even teachers got in on the act, Gobe said, contributing decorated pumpkins as well.

Students will vote on which one is their favorite, but Gobe said she herself doesn’t have one winner.

“Every single child has come in excited about their favorite pumpkin, but there’s no way I could pick a favorite, I love them all,” Gobe said.

Gobe said no names were attached to the pumpkins so that student voting would be based on the pumpkin, not its creator.

The pumpkins were on display at the school through Thursday evening’s “Trunk or Treat” Halloween event.