Second grader Levi Throckmortan concocts plans of world domination while dressed as mad scientist Franny K. Stein from the children's book series. The annual event encourages reading by allowing students to dress up as their favorite literary characters.

GROVE CITY — A cast of characters from a library full of books came to life Friday during Highland Primary Center's literary parade.

Accompanied by the Grove City High School Band, Thing 1 and Thing 2 of Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat" led the way, followed by a teacher dressed as the blue fish from the same author's "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish," book.

Indiana Jones, Snow White, Pippi Longstocking and a little boy dressed in a white box as the cover of an "I Spy" children's book followed close behind, smiling and waving at the crowd.

Cyndi Webster, principal at Highland, said the day is a tradition meant to inspire reading.

"We do it every year, and it's really to promote reading and the characters in the books, since that is our focus here," she said. "They are all in it, and most carry the books they represent with them."

Webster said the children make strong connections with their favorite books during the literary parade.

"The characters in the book can come to life and they connect the day with the enjoyment of reading," Webster said.

The children and their teachers marched from the school on Highland Avenue up Stockton Avenue, turned onto Spring Street, and came back down Poplar Street to the school as the band played behind them. Parents lined the streets with cameras as the band of characters waved from the streets.Sue Bambaco is a learning support aide at the school and said a wide variety of characters are brought to life at the school each year."It makes them more aware of how they can dress up as a book character and shows how important reading is. They can really have fun with it," Bambaco said.Teri Ketler, also a learning support aide, said learning how to read is a key part of children's lives when they are in the primary grades."One of our district goals is to create lifelong learners, so not only do we want the kids to read, we want them to enjoy reading," Ketler said.Kristina Hemphill attended the parade to watch her nephew, who was dressed as a ninja. She said it was a fun way for children to tie in reading with the Halloween season."All the kids love Halloween, and if you have to pick a character to be, you have to read," Hemphill said.Wendy Say and Shelly Petry stood together to watch their sons, who were dressed as a pirate and Dracula."I think it's a lot of fun for them to dress up on this day," Say said.The parade ended at the school, where children returned to the classrooms for some treats.

<br></BR><br></BR><br></BR>

First grade teacher Bill Ford and student Cayla Greggs walk Friday in Highland Primary Care Center's literary parade dressed as Superman and Superwoman. Students, teachers and the Grove City High School marching band walked from the school on Highland Avenue up Stockton Avenue, turned onto Spring Street and came back down to the school from Poplar Street.

first graders Mason Tubbs, left, and Carter Deliere enjoy being pirates Friday during Highland Primary Center's literary parade in Grove City.