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Date: 7/25/2023
HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Children’s Museum will be hosting its first ever Summer Book Fair on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Looking to engage and inspire young readers and their families, the museum came up with the idea to give an opportunity for Holyoke youth to be actively involved in reading and have it more accessible during the summer. The event will aim to foster a love for reading, encourage creativity and provide a platform for children to explore the wonders of literature regardless of socioeconomic status.
“We’re always looking for new ways to reach out to our community and increase our engagement. Since the pandemic a lot of our engagement with community was reduced or limited so we’re definitely trying to grow again. That’s where this idea of the book fair came from” said Children’s Museum Executive Director Abigail Scanlon.
Scanlon added through discussions amongst staff members, not every student gets to experience the thrills of a book fair day in school due to financial situations. This is why it was important for the museum to put on their own book fair that allows for families to pay what they can.
“We wanted to make sure that these kids have access to books and reading materials, regardless of their socioeconomic status,” Scanlon said.
Access to reading materials can also vary for children once the school year is out for summer so attendees of the summer book fair will have the chance to peruse an extensive selection of almost 4,000 books, new and gently used, showcasing various genres including fiction, non-fiction, picture books, graphic novels and more. There will also be a raffle available.
“Books spark children’s imagination and foster their creativity. Through the stories they read, they can explore different worlds, characters and scenarios,” Scanlon said. “This imaginative play cultivates creativity, empathy and emotional intelligence. It encourages children to think creatively and generate their own ideas and stories encompassing the very mission of our museum.”
Admission to the event is free and families are welcomed to choose their own price for the books, with all proceeds going toward supporting the Children’s Museum at Holyoke’s programming. Admission to the museum is not included.
Scanlon added she expects a good turnout for the Book Fair and hopes many children and families take advantage of the fair and access to books.
“We want to make sure that every child who comes into our Book Fair has the opportunity to bolster their reading skills and find joy in books,” Scanlon said. “We thought it really put us in a good position to reach out to as many of these young readers as possible to make sure that they have the experience of getting to participate in a book fair on a equitable level.”
Scanlon added books range from various genres and Spanish and bilingual books as well and hopes kids can come away from the event with a new book they own all to themselves and love.
“Having these opportunities is really important. I love libraries, but there’s something specific about owning a book and the joy of owning your own book and selecting it yourself,” Scanlon said.
For more information about the Summer Book Fair and the Children’s Museum at Holyoke, visit www.childrensmuseumholyoke.org.