A splash of color comes to the Royle school library

An elementary school library is a place for children to explore new worlds and befriend their favorite characters.

The pages of children's books are filled with color and animated drawings that appeal to a child's imagination.

So why shouldn't that same vibrant color and pizazz welcome students when they come back to reality after spending time in the imaginary and far-off lands of storybooks? Royle Elementary School is getting just that: color.

The Board of Education approved and accepted a $6,000 donation from the Royle Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization to commission Michael Kramer to paint a mural in the library.

"This is an opportunity not only for this mural to bring colors to the walls to dress up a drab space, but it will also act as a possible place of inspiration for students," said Principal Keith Margolus. "How powerful it may be to enter a library surrounded by the characters, literally on the walls, who they will read about."

The mural, Royle Kingdom of Reading, will cover the walls leading into the library and will include castle walls and characters from favorite children's books that were voted upon in November.

The idea came to fruition when Margolus and Vice Principal Natasha Torre saw the finished mural at Tokeneke Elementary School, also painted by Kramer. The Tokeneke mural was donated in June in honor of Mary Lee Fisher, a now-retired Tokeneke principal.

Royle parents Alicia Lyons and Sue Trager designed the new mural, which will include the Knight, the school mascot, who is also known as Sir Learn-A-Lot.

The mural will be unveiled at Royle Elementary School's second annual Arts and Literature Night on May 2.

mspicer@bcnnew.com; 203-972-4407; twitter.com/Meg_DarienNews