BRICEVILLE, Tenn. — With school back in session, students are getting ready for the annual Scholastic Book Fair.
"They're just like so excited when they are walking around and looking at all the books," said Jennifer Lindsay, Librarian at Briceville Elementary School.
Students can shop for a selection of books that they want to read that may not be in the school library.
"Even myself, I like to read what I want to read and not what I'm told to read sometimes, and so these kids get that opportunity to come in and just be kids and read what they want to read," said Travis Hutcheson, Principal of Briceville Elementary School.
One of the major points of the book fair is to encourage students' desire to read, which educators say is crucial for learning.
"Without the ability to read and write, they can't learn about anything— about the things that they want to, or what they're required to," said Hutcheson.
Briceville Elementary is one of the smallest in Anderson County, with only 97 students enrolled, and some of those students can't afford to buy from the book fair. Which is why they encourage their students to help out their classmates when they can.
"So you can be nice and so they can get more stuff, I think," said Karsyn York, a first grader at Briceville.
When students buy books from the book fair they can donate their change to the "Share the Fair" fund to help pay for another student's book.
"Most of them are like 'yes!' before I'm even done talking. They're just like 'yes, I want to donate,' because they know that it goes to the library books or someone who couldn't afford to buy a book," said Lindsay.
Madelyn Jordan, a fifth grader, said it makes her feel good to be able to help her friends.
"Some people can't buy it and you feel really bad, so you feel like you need to help them a little bit. And, it's a really good experience."
And whether the donations are big or small, the staff said any amount helps to keep kids reading.
"Maybe I'll give them $50 or maybe $40," said York.
The school is also asking community members for donations to the book fair through the eWallet or the Share the Fair Program. If you'd like to donate, click here.
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