WEST ORANGE, NJ -  Washington Elementary Reading Specialist Wendi Giuliano and her team created a new sort of holiday with "Bookoween," a celebration of all things literacy while adding the "oween" of the fall/holiday season.

"We created our own "Pumpkin Patch of Literacy '' here at Washington School," Giuliano said.

"We have a building filled with brilliant minds, eager to learn and share more through creative projects," she explained, and our principal, Marie DeMaio, will stop at nothing to make certain her students have it all, including every opportunity to have fun while learning and growing," she explained.

Every classroom and teacher, Pre K - 5th was encouraged to participate. "Teachers and students were so excited," noted Guiliano.

"Each classroom had the freedom to go as "big" and as "elaborate" as they could imagine, and their artistic and creative abilities were overwhelming and beyond outstanding!" she enthused.

Principal DeMaio said it was impossible to pick a winner - they were all so outstanding.

"We hope that our students will visit the "Pumpkin Patch of Literacy" and decide, "I'd like to read a book(s) about this character so that our pumpkins will inspire more learning through reading," Giuliano concluded.