The third annual Brentwood Union School District/Barnes & Noble Night fund-raiser netted a grand total of $20,500, 25 percent of which will go to the district to be distributed among its elementary and middle school libraries.
Patrons supported the schools by purchasing books on a librarian's wish list or by buying books of their own.
Entertainment for the event included school principals and vice principals reading to students; the Bristow Middle School Chorus directed by Mark Morello lent its talent with a concert; and the Krey Elementary Coyote mascot was on hand to greet the kids.
Mary Black, BUSD director of curriculum and instruction, attended the event and described it as festive and happy.
"Principals and vice principals reading to children were wonderful," she said.
Ron Nunn School Principal Scott Vernoy read "The Recess Queen" by Alexis O'Neill, a story that featured a girl sharing a jump rope with the school bully, who stopped being a bully because she had someone to play with. He then passed out 58 jump ropes to his listeners.
"I encouraged all the students to play with someone new," Vernoy said.
Staff at the bookstore said the event was a great success, even without a main sponsor this year.
"It's a great community builder. It brings all the 10 schools in the district together," said Cindy Gardner, B&N community relations manager. "They get to celebrate literacy as well as raise funds for libraries."
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