Kids chew way through many books

Despite fears that children are losing interest in reading some of Rotary Book Fair's biggest customers were families.

Last weekend's annual Fairfield Rotary Book Fair featured three times the usual amount of children's books.

Melody Woodward, who was shopping for books for her children, agreed.

"The fair's great for the young ones because they can sometimes go through a lot of books."

There was something for everyone at the fair, said Seddon Polglase, Fairfield Rotary Club president.

Many of the children's books donated have chewed pages as evidence of children's physical enjoyment of them, he said.

"It doesn't matter what your taste is, we have everything. We have a good run of Mills and Boon, but on the other hand, I was talking to customers about the merits of the classics."

By Saturday afternoon, sales at the fair had reached $38,000, slightly up on previous years.

"It's all about money going back in to the community," said Mr Polglase.

"You can't beat having a book in your hands," he said.

"And it's the physical experience of reading for children, the touch and the pictures."

 - See the Waikato Independent