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Little Red Riding Hoods, storybook princesses and comic book superheroes filled the classrooms and halls of Gaywood Elementary School, then marched through the neighborhood Oct. 29 as students celebrated their favorite storybook characters.

This marked the fourth year the Lanham school celebrated "Dress up as your favorite literary character" day, which teachers say grows each year. In addition to being popular among students, the event is part of the school's initiative to boost reading and help meet standardized testing goals.

"It's a way to have something like Halloween, but much more educational," said Linda Sank, the school's special education resource teacher. "We're trying to raise our reading scores — we'll do anything to motivate them."

Gaywood Elementary did not make adequate yearly progress, a benchmark for achievement on the Maryland School Assessments, for the 2008-2009 school year, but did make AYP in the 2007-2008 school year.

Mary Jane Palmitesso, the school's reading specialist, said the storybook character parade was part of the school's 25-book campaign, the Gaywood book challenge, which kicked off in October and ends Dec. 23. The goal is for students in kindergarten to second grade to read 25 books, while students in grades three through six should aim to read 25 chapters.

Two additional 25-book campaigns are planned for the school year.

On Oct. 29, students carried the book that corresponded with their character's costume.

Fourth-grader Aziza Austin, 9, of Lanham dressed as Little Red Riding Hood. "She gets to wear a cape, she gets to carry a basket and she doesn't get eaten," she said. "I just like her."

First-grader Darius Logan Jr., 6, of Clinton dressed as a pig from the fairy tale "Three Little Pigs."

"I like when they be safe," he said. "I love to read every day."

First-grader Arielle Simmons-Debrah, 6, of Lanham dressed as the mouse from "The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse," one of her favorite books. "I like dressing up as mouses and princesses," she said.

The students and teachers who dressed up paraded through the school's main hallway and around a block in the neighborhood.

Students and teachers who didn't dress up waited for their classmates and screamed with delight when they saw the characters return to school.

Principal Sonya Harris dressed up as Muffy from "Arthur." She estimated that at least 100 of the school's 500 students participated.

"I feel that we have to show [the students] — we have to be a model," Harris said. "I want to make sure literacy is at the forefront."

Fourth-grade teacher Keisha Spangler said this is a fun way for students to get excited about reading.

"If this is what it takes — we're just having fun," said Spangler, who dressed as the title character of "Chrysanthemum."

Ivy Moulder, president of the school's Parent Teacher Organization, dressed as a fairy from "The Wizard of Oz."

"Every child should be able to read," Moulder said. "They can have adventures in a book they might not be able to in real life."

E-mail Liz Skalski at eskalski@gazette.net.