POUND RIDGE, N.Y. – In this age of Kindles, eReaders and smart phones, it seemed almost anachronistic to see kids lining up to enthusiastically spend money on…books.

But on Tuesday afternoon the halls of the Pound Ridge Elementary School were lined with students who jostled back and forth to find their favorite titles during the PTA’s annual Scholastic Book Fair.

“This is one of our largest fundraisers of the year,” said Chris Girardi, a PTA member and former president. The funds help pay for enrichment programs for grades K-5.

This year’s book fair theme is “Reading is Out of This World,” and there were alien- and space ship-themed artwork displayed throughout the corridor to reflect it.

The event began on Sunday and will run through the end of the week. Highlights include a preschool storybook reading that took place on Tuesday at noon, a family fun night on Wednesday, and senior discount day on Thursday, when senior citizens can get 10 percent off all their purchases. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day except Thursday, when they are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Family fun night runs from 5:45 to 8 p.m. in the gym,” said Kristen Hurwitz, a member of the book fair’s committee. “Principal [Tim] Gembka will read some books to the kids and there will be games to play and an opportunity to buy some books.”

Besides books, the fair also offer items such as posters, pencils, erasers, highlighters and other school supplies.

The fair also provides an opportunity for attendees to donate some money to help the school purchase books for Pound Ridge Elementary and its sister school in Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands.

On Tuesday, PTA volunteers managing the cash registers said sales were brisk and the fair was off to a good start.

“It’s been great,” Hurwitz said. “It’s been very successful so far.”

 

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