DAILY LEADER / KATIE WILLIAMSON / Addison Waltman, 5, laughs during a game of “Simon Says” during the Reading Extravaganza Friday.

The crowded room of children fell quiet when the first line of the book was read aloud. The campers listened intently as Millie Porter spoke. After the story, the herd of children moved to the craft area and decorated paper flowers that echoed the theme of the story.

“I thought this would be something fun for kids to do over the summer,” said Porter, Reading Extravaganza camp director and founder of the Reading Nook. She said she hopes that the kids will take away better reading comprehension skills.

Caroline Kilpatrick, 7, glues tissue paper to a paper flower.

This was the first year for the reading extravaganza at the Bicentennial Park. Parents paid $100 for their children to participate in a 9 a.m.-to-1 p.m., weeklong camp.

Each day, the children were read different books by Eric Carl, author and illustrator of several children’s books, which set the theme for the camp. They also were provided lunch, had the opportunity to make arts and crafts, and played in the park.

The camp was sponsored by the Reading Nook in Brookhaven. The Nook opened last year and offers educational services to kindergarten through 12th grade in the area.

Millie Porter, founder of the Reading Nook, reads to a group of campers at the Reading Extravaganza.