Book fairs support schools

LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i High School student Maia Cummings was happy to find books for her brother Saturday while browsing through the book fair being presented by Sheila Bradley of Usborne Books and More at Kukui Grove Center.

“Families have been deprived of school book fairs these past two years because of the pandemic,” said Bradley, the educational-services representative for Usborne Books &More. “We wanted to help. We want to make sure kids are able to pick out books they love and families have the resources they need to help kids fall in love with reading.”

In a collaborative effort with KGC, Usborne Books &More launched its first weekend book sale last week in support of Island School.

Taking an available space at the center, Bradley set up the space to host a weekend book fair each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 24. Each week’s book fair supports a different school.

“I thought this was a nice way to support the schools and the families as kids go back to school,” said Melissa McFerrin-Warrack of KGC. “The book fair opening Friday (today) supports the St. Theresa School.”

Bradley said the schools supported represent schools that would normally be working with Usborne Books to have fairs on their respective campuses.

The book fairs open Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the space near Cell Everything, across from T-Mobile and Oki’s Bento.

The book fair scheduled for Oct. 1 to 3 supports Koloa School, and the book fair on Oct. 8 to 10 supports King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School. The final book fair on Oct. 22 to 24 supports Kalaheo School.

“We do have an open week with the Department of Education’s fall break,” Bradley said. “If there is a school interested in being supported, a representative from the school can visit me at any of the weekend events for more information, or to save that fall break weekend for them.”