The PS 261 Book Committee
We promote reading joy — creating fun ways for all students to access and engage with books, authors, and literacy. See more about our events below.
Author Visits
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Author Visits 〰️
Every year, the Book Committee hosts an author visit for each grade, grades K thru 5th. These visits give students a chance to interact with a published author and receive a free signed book. Our school librarian Ms. M, has teamed up with the Book Committee to read and teach each author’s book before they visit, making the author’s visit that much more fun and engaging for both the students and the author.
The Book Committee partners with the Center for Fiction to host our third graders’ author visit at their location in Downtown Brooklyn. Last year our third graders got to visit with Jacqueline Woodson, pictured here.
We’ve had the opportunity to welcome some truly special authors. Also pictured here are just of a few of those authors, including Lian Cho , Tony Hillery, Daniel Salmieri and Sophia Haas, and Bess Kalb. In September we welcomed author and illustrator Manuel Marsol (all the way from Madrid) who read his book Ahab and the White Whale to our second graders, and on October 5th, Traci N. Todd and Vashti Harrison will visit our first graders to read and discuss That You Are Here is No Small Thing.
Comic Con
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Comic Con 〰️
Comic Con, first hosted in Spring of 2024, is a totally FREE PS 261 annual event. Each year the Book Committee brings in a panel of five to six comic creators for a discussion in the auditorium and a very fun draw-off in which the creators compete against each other. After the panel we host a book signing in the gymnasium, along with a photo booth and other fun activities. The Book Committee offers free pizza to attendees and Greenlight Bookstore sets up a booth where students may purchase the panelists’ books. Free little black notebooks are provided, should a reader not want to buy or bring a book, but would like an autograph.
Past Comic Cons have included author/illustrators Sophie Escabasse, John Green, Ethan Aldridge, Mika Song, Abhi Alwar, George O'Connor, Ruth Chan, Mike Cavallaro, Eliza Kinkz, Sharee Miller, David Roman, Nathan Hale, Dana Simpson, Gale Galligan, Nick Bruel, Pablo Leon, Time Probert, and author Saadia Faruqi.
This year Comic Con will be hosted on April 15, 2027 from 6 PM to 8 PM. Mark your calendars!
Dollar Book Sale & Banned Book Advocacy
As a more sustainable, affordable, and enjoyable alternative to Book Fairs, each year the Book Committee hosts a Dollar Book Sale during Fall Fest and again at Rainbow Run (hosted in June). The Book Committee also brings awareness to the issue of books being banned in our country’s schools and libraries by providing spaces for students to read banned books.
Librarians = Literacy
Librarians = Literacy is a parent-led campaign, started here at PS 261, that advocates to get school librarians and libraries — which are rapidly disappearing —into all NYC pubic schools. Learn more and join us by clicking here!
Winter Break Read-A-Thon
During February Break, the Book Committee hosts a Read-A-Thon to encourage readers across the grades to cozy up with books over the break, and to help earn money for awesome PS 261 programming. All readers have a chance to win fun prizes for themselves and their classes, as well as enter a school-wide raffle.
Summer Reading Sheets
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Summer Reading Sheets 〰️
