Poetry ruled the day at the Family Reading Partnership's Kids' Book Fest, Nov. 14 at Boynton Middle School, and Cornell volunteers were on hand to make it all happen for the more than 2,000 children and parents who came to read and explore poems and books.

Dozens of Cornell students in various honor societies and sororities volunteered at the event, helping out with such activities as reading and acting out scenes from popular poems and stories, passing out quarter cards with poems, and face painting.

"We cannot present Kids' Book Fest as a free event to area families without the help of volunteers," says Lisa Berry, Kids' Book Fest coordinator. "Numerous Cornell students and alums help make the reading magic by volunteering their time reading to children, dressing as favorite children's book characters, serving lunch and so much more."

In addition, Cornell students who volunteer with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program brought their "little siblings" to the festival. And, human and animal members of the Cornell Companions pet visitation program -- dogs and one bird -- set up a "reading animals" room, where kids read animal-themed books and poems to the pets.

Graduate student Sarah Perdue is a writer intern at the Cornell Chronicle.