Hurst-Euless-Bedford to host first annual Book Blast extravaganza

by Chad Jones

An epic event of literary proportions.

This Friday, May the 4th, The Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District will be hosting its very first Book Blast.

What is a Book Blast, you ask? It's an English explosion, a proliferation of poetry, a synergy of story-telling. What is a Book Blast, you ask again? Well, it's a three-and-a-half-hour event designed specifically to "get kids excited about reading."

Conceived as a labor of literary love by Barbara Richardson, the HEB ISD's media coordinator, the extravaganza will be held in Pennington Field and the Pat May Center, located at 1849 Central Drive in Bedford.

"Our district has long had programs [such as the Battle of the Books] that focus on elementary students," says Richardson. "But lately I've been asking 'what could we do to get all our children involved and interested?'"

Each campus will put together its own carnival-type game, such as bingo for books, bobbing for books, and leaping through a ring of fire for books. All right, maybe not that last one. But kids will be able to create short stories, print out their own miniature books and earn tickets that can be exchanged for books.

Three children's authors will also be at hand — Kate McMullan, author of I Stink! and I'm Dirty; Chris Crutcher, author of young adult titles such as Ironman; and local author Lynn Lunsford.

And if you're still not sold, there will be an inflatable obstacle course, a ballroom dancing group, kettle corn, pizza, and high school cheerleaders.

For a little more information, check HEB ISD's official page.